Bush administration wants open elections in Bangladesh

By JULHAS ALAM | Associated Press Writer

6:13 AM EDT, May 9, 2008

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DHAKA, Bangladesh - Bangladesh's military-backed government should lift emergency rule to facilitate open elections that it has promised to hold by the end of the year, a State Department official said Friday.

Richard A. Boucher, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, said Washington will not accept any "deviation" from the path of a credible vote and establishment of democracy.

"I would expect it (lifting of emergency rule) would happen ... certainly we think that you can't have an open election under strict emergency," he told a news conference.

Boucher, accompanied by a senior State Department counterterrorism official, arrived Thursday for a two-day official visit to discuss the elections and other issues with interim leader Fakhruddin Ahmed and military chief Moeen U. Ahmed.

He said the U.S. would continue to support Bangladesh so all major political parties can participate in the polls.

The makeshift government came to power in January 2007 by declaring a state of emergency after more than 30 people were killed in weeks of violent street protests over electoral reforms.

With many democratic rights curtailed and media coverage often dictated by security agencies, there are growing concerns of voter intimidation. Several newspaper editors met Thursday, expressing concerns that the interference is increasing.

Boucher said Washington is working with the government to help overcome many challenges for development and democracy in Bangladesh.

The partnership is important, he said, as Bangladesh is working on challenges to make the society stronger and healthier "to be able to resist the influences of extremism and terrorism, which is an important process for both you and us."

Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of 150 million people that is ruled by secular laws, has been hit in recent years by terrorist attacks by Islamic militants who want to establish strict religious rule. The government says it has broken up the terrorist network and is working with global partners, including the U.S., to keep it from rebounding.

The government also has launched a massive crackdown on corruption, and two former prime ministers are in jail awaiting trial.