Bangladeshi bus fire kills nine

Opposition supporters want the government to stand down

At least nine people have been burned to death in a bus fire in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

Police have launched an investigation, and say opposition activists supporting a planned general strike on Saturday may have carried out an arson attack.

Twenty people were also injured when the bus burst into flames.

The incident occurred close to a hotel where US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is due to stay during a visit to the country this weekend.

He is expected to urge Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to commit Bangladeshi troops to Iraq after an interim government takes over on 30 June.

'Subversion'

The fire on the double-decker bus came as thousands of Bangladeshis protested in Dhaka against Mr Rumsfeld's visit.

However police believe the fire may be connected with the planned nationwide strike.

"This is a case of arson caused by subversion," a police told Reuters news agency.

Saturday's strike is the latest in a series of stoppages called by the opposition Awami League, in an effort to force early elections.

The league accuses Ms Zia's government of being inefficient and corrupt.

The government says it intends to stay in office until 2006, when the next elections are due in the country.