Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed was sworn in today as head of an interim caretaker administration to steer the country through to elections in January.
State television showed Chief Justice J.R. Mudassir Hossain administering the oath of office to Iajuddin at the presidential palace, Bangabhaban.
The president intervened after former Supreme Court chief justice K.M. Hasan backed out of an arrangement to take the reins temporarily after the expiry of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year term.
Mr Ahmed held separate talks with party leaders to try and solve a political crisis that has led to the deaths of 18 people in two days of rioting.