Bangladesh lifts curfew in major cities

The government said Monday that it was lifting a curfew imposed last week on six major cities after violent protests against emergency rule.

The military-backed interim government put the nighttime curfew in place Wednesday after student protests turned into street clashes that left at least one person dead and 100 wounded. There have been no demonstrations since the curfew was imposed.

"As the law and order situation has stabilized, the curfew is withdrawn," the Home Ministry said.

Security forces have detained several people, including five university teachers suspected of instigating unrest during the protests, and plan to take legal action against those found responsible for fomenting "instability and chaos," the statement said.

More than 144 people have been arrested for violating the curfew.

The demonstrations began Aug. 20 at Dhaka University with students demanding the removal of army posts on college campuses. The protests spread to other colleges across the country and then onto city streets.

Protesters also demanded the immediate restoration of democracy and an end to emergency rule _ imposed in January after President Iajuddin Ahmed canceled elections following weeks of violent opposition protests demanding electoral reforms.

Many vendors and slum-dwellers joined in this month's protests, setting vehicles on fire and damaging buildings and public property.

Authorities closed all public universities and colleges, and ordered students to vacate the campuses.

Demonstrations, strikes, political activities and open criticism of the government are not allowed under emergency rule.

The majority of the country's 145 million people live outside the capital and other cities where the curfew was in effect.