DHAKA - THE winner of this week's election in Bangladesh has pledged to end political violence in the troubled South Asian nation.

Sheikh Hasina also said in her first post-election news conference on Wednesday that as prime minister she will need cooperation from the opposition to promote democracy.

She said the country no longer wants the politics of violence and pledged to end it.

Bangladesh's first election in seven years was its most peaceful in decades. But Ms Hasina's archrival, Khaleda Zia, has refused to recognise her landslide victory and has alleged widespread voting fraud.

The accusation indicates Ms Hasina will find it difficult to escape paralyzing power struggles in a country long plagued by corruption and misrule. Both women faced recent corruption charges. -- AP

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