DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, facing mounting pressure from the opposition, Friday agreed to hand over power to an interim government.
Elections will be held in January. Zia had held the prime minister's post in an earlier term. Widow of assassinated President Ziaur Rahman, Zia leads the Bangladesh National Party and has held power for about five years.
The BBC reported she will hand over power Saturday. She told the nation in a televised speech that she will respect the constitution.
The standoff between her party and the opposition Awami League has already claimed two lives in clashes as thousands marched on the streets of the capital Dhaka.
The BBC report said retired Judge K.H. Khan, whom Zia has chosen to lead the interim government, is opposed by the Awami League, raising concerns about renewed violence in the predominantly Muslim country, which was, until 1971, the eastern wing of Pakistan.
Awami supporters accuse Khan of being a stooge of the ruling Bangladesh National Party and claim he will rig the polls, the report said.
The BNP's woes have been aggravated by the defections of 12 parliament members to a new party.
