The World : 8 Die in Bangladesh Strife

Bangladesh police battled rock-throwing demonstrators on the second day of a strike called to demand the resignation of President Hussain Mohammed Ershad. Witnesses said that at least eight people were killed and 200 were wounded in the nationwide disturbances. Large areas of Dhaka, the capital, became a battleground after riot police killed five people while trying to break up fighting between opposing groups, the witnesses added. The government said that the police fired in self-defense after tear gas and baton charges failed to stop a group of demonstrators who were trying to set fire to a building housing government offices.