Strong turnout for peaceful election

Bangladeshis voted yesterday in a largely peaceful election many rated more honest and fraud-free than those in the past, but it remained to be seen if the losers would accept the results.

The vote was a return to democracy for the South Asian country after two years of emergency rule imposed by an army-backed government.

It took over in January 2007 amid widespread street violence between supporters of rival parties and cancelled a poll due that month.