A court in Bangladesh has sentenced to death fifteen former army officers and politicians for the assassination in 1975 of the country's independence leader and first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Only three of those convicted were in court to hear the judge's verdict: the others are believed to be in exile overseas.

Four other accused were acquitted for lack of evidence.

The trial was ordered by Sheikh Mujib's daughter, Sheikh Hassina, after she became prime minister in June 1996.

Twenty-one members of her family were massacred in the coup, when soldiers launched an attack on their home in Dhaka.

There were celebrations on the streets after today's verdict, but opposition supporters threatened protests and strikes.