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Dhaka tries to fill power vacuum

From Journalist Tasneem Khalil in Bangladesh

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DHAKA, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed huddled with the four major political parties in the country Sunday in an attempt to name a new leader for the interim government after the original man chosen for the job withdrew amid deadly rioting over his appointment the day before, a presidential palace spokesman said.

If the president feels the handover will take more time he might allow the current government to stay, his office said.

Fierce clashes between political protesters and riot police have left at least 15 people dead and more than 500 wounded in the past two days, according to unofficial police estimates in Dhaka.

Police and paramilitary forces are reportedly unable to completely control the riots in many parts of the country as uncertainty over who will be named the next caretaker persists.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice K.M. Hasan was set to be sworn in as caretaker leader Saturday after current Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year mandate ended on Friday. However, Hasan issued a press statement Sunday saying he was unwilling to take the responsibility of the chief of the caretaker government. He did not elaborate.

On Saturday a spokesman with the president's office said Hasan was declining taking the post because he was ill. Officials close to Hasan declined to comment.

Opposition leaders jumped on the issue, claiming Hasan was declining his post not because he was ill but simply because he was unwilling to take over amidst violent protests against him, a source with the opposition speaking on terms of anonymity told CNN. Local media reported the opposition's claim as well.

Political tension has stewed in Bangladesh ever since Hasan was tapped for the position because many residents have said the former chief justice -- who is also a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party -- is biased.

Impartiality is important for the leader of the 90-day interim government, since that government is meant to oversee the upcoming parliamentary election, which is set to be held early in the next year.

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