Bangladesh Crippled by Traffic Blockade

A Bangladeshi rickshaw puller rides past a car that was set afire by protestors in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006. Separate clashes between rival political activists and police left at least 65 people injured, as a major political alliance in Bangladesh staged a nationwide transport blockade on Sunday to force electoral reforms, witnesses and news reports said. (AP Photo/Pavel Rahman) (Pavel Rahman - AP)

Hasina was the leader of the opposition during Zia's tenure that ended in October, and prime minister before Zia came to power. The two women are longtime political adversaries.

Zia urged Ahmed to ask Hasina to suspend the blockade because previous strikes have harmed the impoverished country's economy, party spokesman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, said.

Bangladesh has recently witnessed a series of violent street protests, organized by Hasina's alliance, to demand changes in the election commission and a voter list _ both of which they say are biased toward Zia's party.

They also want Ahmed to step down as chief of the interim government charged with running the country until the elections, as they accuse him of lack of neutrality.

A spokesman for the interim government late Saturday said they would meet Sunday to consider demands made by both political leaders.

The Jan. 21 poll date, set by the Election Commission, has been rejected by the alliance, although the parties in the alliance have not said if they plan to boycott it.

The interim government has 90 days from the time Zia stepped down on Oct. 28 to hold the new elections, according to the constitution.

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AP correspondents Parveen Ahmed in Dhaka and Humayun Rashid Chowdhury in Sylhet contributed to this report.