"Our position on Bangladesh and on its elections I think is well known to you and certainly hasn't changed. We do want to see elections move forward as soon as possible and in an appropriate way according to the constitution and according to the rule of law," Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey told a press briefing Thursday.

He said Washington also wants "to make sure that there is accountability in government, that corruption and any other illegal activities are managed. But that, again, is something that is for the Bangladeshi people and the Bangladeshi system to deal with."

However, Casey said it is a question that every country is going to have to address in its own way and time. "Certainly though, people need to be careful to make sure that as they implement any kinds of measures that, again, they're done in full accordance with the rule of law and in accordance to whatever the national standards and practices of that country are," he added.

When a correspondent referred to articles in some foreign media, including one published in the Wall Street Journal that suspected the army's takeover, and wanted to know whether the US has any knowledge about the role of army in Bangladesh, Casey said, "I think our views on this issue are clear. We want to see Bangladesh 's democratic system develop."

"We want to see elections take place in an environment that's free and fair and does not have any elements of intimidation to it.

"And certainly not only in Bangladesh but in any place in the world, we would react very strongly and very negatively to any efforts by the military or anyone else to usurp the rights of the legitimate government," he said.