Sunday, March 12 2006 15:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: At least 50 people were injured today(Mar12,2006) when police used batons and tear gas to stop a march by hundreds of activists of Bangladesh's main opposition Awami League, who were demanding resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

The party wants Chief Election Commissioner M A Aziz to resign, saying that polls cannot be fair under him. Parliamentary polls for 300 seats are set for early 2007.

Witnesses said police lobbed tear gas shells, sprayed coloured water and baton-charged several hundred Awami League activists at Russel Square adjacent to Dhanmandi area in Dhaka.

Police stopped the marchers at square and activists started hurling stones at them, followed by chase-counter-chase, the witnesses said.

As many as 1,000 policemen were deployed in the area, where the incident left at least 50 people injured, the witnesses said.

Another march from suburban Mirpur was also stopped bypolice, but there was no immediate report of violence.

The Awami League is also demanding a reform of the Election Commission and the voting process.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has offered to set up a bipartisan committee to discuss the demands, but so far it has not meterialised.