Strike affects Bangladesh

A general strike called by the opposition Awami League in Bangladesh has closed schools and businesses, and disrupted public transport.

Hundreds of police have been deployed in the capital to prevent disturbances.

The strike, the sixth this year, is aimed at forcing early elections.

The Awami League has accused the government of Begum Khaleda Zia of being inefficient and corrupt and wants it to step down by the end of the month.

The government has rejected the demand and says it intends to stay in office until 2006 when the next elections are due in Bangladesh.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service