The AL chief, meantime, has appealed to the world leaders and people of Bangladesh to put pressure on the caretaker government to let her return home.

The former prime minister said she would fight any charges of murder and corruption in court, if she is allowed to return to the country.

Hasina yesterday gave separate interviews to Indian television station NDTV, Qatar-based Al Jazeera television channel and BBC Radio (Bangla Service) from London, where she is now residing at her younger sister's house.

Referring to the interim government's support for 'reforms' inside the political parties, she said it is not the job of a caretaker government.

Hasina could not take her scheduled flight from London on Sunday, as the British Airways did not issue boarding pass to her. The AL chief is accused of involvement in the death of four political activists during street violence in October 28 last year -- a charge she has denied.

INTERVIEW WITH THE NDTV

In a telephone interview with the NDTV, Sheikh Hasina said, "I urge the world leaders and the people of my country to put pressure on Bangladesh government so that I can return to my country."

''I am not a fugitive. I want to go back to my country,'' she said describing the ban on her as intimidation tactics, reports our correspondent from Delhi.

''I didn't commit any murder. It is an absolutely false case,'' she responded about the charges against her.

She labelled the interim government's act as 'double standard' and said, "On the one hand, the government filed a case against me. On the other hand, it is not allowing me to back home to fight the case."

Asked about her future strategy to get back home, Hasina said she was talking to other politicians in Bangladesh as well as in the United Kingdom to tackle the situation politically and legally.

"I am the daughter of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a former prime minister. There is no reason why I will not be allowed to return to my own country," she said.

In her interview with the Al Jazeera television channel, Hasina denied any responsibility for the deaths of protestors in October last year allegedly caused by supporters of her party.

"Demanding your constitutional right is not a crime. We were fighting for free and fair elections," she said adding, "When they attacked our people, four to five people were killed. At least 68 people of our party and alliance also were killed, then how can I be responsible for that?"

Asked about what she would do if she is allowed to return to Bangladesh, Hasina said, "I will place myself before the court. You know, politically and also judicially I will try to fight it back. Because my conscience is clear. I know I have not committed any such crime."

About the interim government's support for 'reforms' inside the political parties, Hasina said, "Our people should take decision who will lead them and who will be leader of the country. It's not the job of an interim government."

If an un-elected and unconstitutional government runs for a long period, then there would be no accountability, she said.

INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC BANGLA SERVICE
Referring to the suspension of arrest warrant against her in a murder case, Hasina told the BBC radio that it is the reflection of people's desire. She alleged that the government is doing unethical activities as the same government is filing case against her and at the same time barring her from returning home.

By suspending arrest warrant, the government has already proved that the charges are false, Hasina said.

Terming the ban on her returning home 'a violation of human rights', Hasina asked the interim government to withdraw the ban.

Asked about her next plans, Hasina said, "I am communicating with different leaders in my country as well as in London. We will create world opinion against the present government in Bangladesh."

She replied negatively when asked about any communication with the government in Dhaka. Hasina declined to comment on any discussion with her party leaders.

"I want cooperation of my people for returning home and I firmly believe that people are aware about the matter," she said.

"I will face the situation legally and politically. I am not in fear of any consequence," Hasina said adding that she is ready for any sacrifice for people.

UNB reports: The government restriction on AL chief Sheikh Hasina's return to the country was raised during the meeting between Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett in London.

The bilateral meeting between the two was held at British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on April 19.

"We have sought clarification of the caretaker government's decision and the foreign secretary raised the issue in her meeting with the Bangladeshi foreign affairs adviser," a spokesman for the British High Commission in Dhaka said yesterday, a day after the former prime minister was barred from boarding a British Airways flight.

In reply to a question, the spokesman said, "Throughout the state of emergency we have consistently emphasised in our engagement with the caretaker government the need to balance concerns over stability and security with respect for individuals' rights and democratic processes."

Foreign Adviser Chowdhury, on his return from London, declined to make any comment to the media about the restriction on Hasina's homecoming.

Asked whether the government would respond to the explanation sought by the British High Commission regarding the press note that embargoed Hasina's return, a senior foreign ministry official said they have not received any written communication about the matter.

HASINA'S ARREST WARRANT STALLED
A Dhaka court yesterday suspended the operation of the arrest warrants issued on Sunday against former prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and two others in connection with the Paltan killings on October 28 last year, reports our court correspondent.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza passed the order following a petition submitted by the investigation officer (IO) of the case seeking further investigation into the case and suspension of operation of the arrest warrants against Hasina and two others.

The court also directed the IO to probe the matter and fixed May 28 for submission of the probe report.

The same court on Sunday issued arrest warrants against Hasina, former home minister and AL leader Mohammad Nasim and AL activist Kiron alias Abdul Malek after accepting the charge sheet in connection with the Paltan killings.

They were shown absconding in the charge sheet even though Nasim was and still is in jail custody.

The IO had prayed to the court for the issuance of arrest warrants against the accused "fugitives" and confiscating their properties.

After scrutinising the case docket and other relevant documents, Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza had passed the order on the IO's plea for issuance of arrest warrants against them.

However, the court did not pass any order on the IO's plea for confiscating their movable properties.

In yesterday's petition, Sub-inspector Enamul Haque of Detective Branch of police, also the IO of the case, mentioned that he had earlier investigated the matter and found evidence against a number of people involved with the killings but he did not collect their correct names and addresses. So, he failed to include their names in the charge sheet, the IO added.

He said further investigation into the incident is required to collect the correct names and addresses of those involved with the killings.

Moreover, the operation of the arrest warrants issued earlier against Hasina, Nasim and Kiron should be postponed until the investigation completes, the IO added.

Putting off the operation of the arrest warrants against them, the court directed the IO to probe into the matter again.

On April 11, police pressed charges against Hasina, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu and 42 others for killing five Jamaat-e-Islami activists and injuring several others.

Of them, Roymohon Shil, Omar Faruq and Sumon are now in jail custody.

Forty others including Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Dr HBM Iqbal and Jahangir Kabir Nanak were earlier granted bail from the High Court (HC).

The IO dropped the names of Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and 14 others from the charge sheet, as he did not find evidence indicating their involvement in the killings.

Prior to the caretaker government's taking over power on October 28, seven people were killed in a fierce clash between activists of AL-led 14-party alliance and Jamaat-e-Islami in Paltan area. A day later, Workers Party and Jamaat filed separate cases in connection with the same incident with Paltan Police Station.

CASE AGAINST NIZAMI
The murder case filed against Jamaat Amir Matiur Rahman Nizami and nine others, in connection with the killing of a Workers Party activist on October 28 last year, was sent to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court for trial yesterday.

The IO of the case, AKM Idris Hossain, sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of Police, pressed charges against 10 leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir in connection with the killing of Workers Party activist Rasel Ahmed Khan.

The prosecution said on October 28 last year activists of Jamaat and its student wing Shibir gathered in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque and launched an attack on the AL-led 14-party alliance activists when they were passing through the area.

The attack sparked a fierce street fight between the rival political activists. During the battle, Shibir activists were seen shooting from their firearms, the prosecution said.

Their rivals also reportedly launched a counter attack with oars and sticks.