DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Bangladesh's outgoing government delayed a power shift to caretaker rule Saturday amid two days of riots that killed six people and left hundreds injured.
The official reason given for the delay was because the man appointed to head the new government, Chief Justice K.M. Hasan, was ill, the government said.
But opposition leaders claimed Hasan refused to take the post because of the violent protests against his appointment and charges the government planned to rig upcoming elections, the BBC reported.
The opposition Awami League threatened to paralyze the country if Hasan takes office, with demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and the country's main port.
Outgoing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, whose five-year term expired at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, appealed for calm.
She promised the elections would be free and fair and said the constitution would "safeguard a peace-loving and responsible nation."
