The head of Bangladesh's military-backed interim government said on Thursday that he hopes free and fair elections can be held by the end of 2008.
In a televised address to the nation, Fakhruddin Ahmed also said he would not stay in office any longer than necessary. He also said the election commission was fully independent.
Bangladesh was scheduled to hold elections on January 22nd. But the poll was postponed and a state of emergency imposed after violent street protests calling for electoral reforms.
Fakhruddin Ahmed took over as chief of the interim government. He has vowed to clean up Bangladesh's notoriously corrupt politics, detaining more than 100 politicians on graft charges.
Zahurul Alam has more on the story.
