More than 100 people were injured in clashes in Bangladesh today during a strike called by the country's main opposition party to protest at a grenade attack that nearly killed its leader.
The dawn-to-dusk strike, the second called by the Awami League, shut shops, schools and businesses across the country.
A week ago, at least seven grenades were thrown at a crowded rally the party leader, Sheikh Hasina, was addressing in Dhaka.
Nineteen people were killed and more than 150 wounded in blasts.
The Awami League launched a wave of strikes and marches to protest against the blasts and the coalition government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The priome minister and Sheikh Hasina are bitter rivals who have not spoken for 14 years.
The worst violence today was in Dhunat, a small town northwest of Dhaka, where police fired blanks to disperse clashing groups of Awami League and ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists.
At least 30 people were hurt, including a policeman.
Another 30 people were injured in clashes in Birganj, some 420 km northwest of Dhaka. Elsewhere, some 40 other people were injured.
Police said more than 200 people were detained.
