Russia accuses US envoy Peter Haas of aiding anti-govt rallies in Bangladesh

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas of aiding the opposition to hold anti-government rallies in Bangladesh.

"At the end of October, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met with a member of the local opposition to discuss plans for organizing anti-government rallies," she said in a briefing in Moscow.

"Such actions amount to nothing less than gross interference in internal affairs," she said.

The general election will be held on January 7 amid opposition BNP's call to boycott the poll.

Peter Haas was apparently trying to broker deals between the political parties. He was seen handing over letter of his boss Assistant Secretary Donald Lu to major parties asking them to hold diagloue.

Before the BNP's October 28 rally, which was foiled due to clash with the police, Peter Haas met home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

After the meeting the minister said the ambassador had asked him whether the government would close the roads and entrances to Dhaka during the rally, a claim that the embassy later rejected.

Russia and China earlier warned against any US interference in the political process of Bangladesh.