At least 50 supporters of Bangladesh 's former opposition Awami League (AL) and immediate past ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were wounded in fighting Tuesday while candidates of the two parties submitted their nominations for the general elections slated for Jan. 22, 2007.

The Election Commission set Dec. 26 the last date for submission of nomination papers of the candidates for the 300-seat parliament to be elected on Jan. 22, 2007.

Police said the first incident occurred when BNP candidate Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka and AL candidate Haji Selim went to submit their nominations at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's office, where supporters of one party pelted stone to the supporters of the other party triggering a fight.

Witnesses said the violent clash broke out when processions of BNP candidate confronted with that of AL candidate.

The supporters of the two parties fought each others for half an hour during which several supporters of the parties were injured. The fighting workers of the political parties also damaged several vehicles and set one motor cycle on fire.

In another incident, the supports of the two parties also fought each other as workers of a party opened fire on their rivals who were going to the Election Commission in Agargaon area of the capital.

Police opened 30 rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the fighting workers.

Local television channel ATN Bangla said at least 50 supporters were wounded in two places during the fights and several motor cycles were torched.

Source: Xinhua