Dhaka, June 19: United States' Secretary of State Colin Powell today held discussions with his Bangladesh counterpart M Morshed Khan on bilateral issues amidst protests from some opposition parties against the "unjustified" American war on Iraq. Powell's five-hour stopover at Dhaka is mainly seen as a thanksgiving visit for Bangladesh's support in the Iraq war. The US Secretary of State arrived here at noon from Phnom Penh after attending the Asean regional forum and was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and main opposition leader Sheikh Hasina later in the day. Post-war developments in Iraq and the current situation in the Middle East are likely to be a highlight of discussions.


Foreign minister Khan and Powell will later address a joint press conference before the latter embarks on a visit to Jordan.


Although Hasina is scheduled to meet Powell, several other opposition parties including Left Parties and workers party have protested Powell's visit accusing him of being "one of the architect of mass killing in Iraq". Bureau Report