Dhaka- Bangladesh's two main opposition leaders have blamed the military-backed interim government of trying to delay crucial national elections and called for mass protests at the weekend, officials said Thursday.

"The government is indulging in a deep-rooted conspiracy to put off the upcoming parliamentary polls and instead hold snap local elections, keeping prominent political leaders in prison," said Zillur Rahman of the opposition Awami League, which is led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Rahman, a senior Awami League official, warned of a tough campaign against the interim authorities if Hasina, who is currently abroad for medical treatment while on bail, was not cleared of all corruption charges filed against her by the anti-corruption commission.

Hasina, who faces multiple charges of extortion and scandals over defence purchases, plans to return home shortly to lead her party's drive for a general election ahead of local polls in towns and villages across the country.

The general election is regarded as crucial in the impoverished South Asian country, which was pushed near collapse last year by a violent standoff between the secular Awami League and an alliance of nationalists and Islamists spearheaded by another ex-premier, Khaleda Zia.

"The parliamentary vote in December will determine whether this nation of 140 million plagued by endemic poverty stays on course for transition to democracy or not," economic analyst Abul Barkat said.

In a rare gesture Zia, elected twice prime minister of the volatile country, declared her support of her greatest political foe, Hasina, to put extra pressure on the interim regime to shelve plans for local polls preceding the general election.

Political parties, including Hasina's and Zia's, argued that holding local elections first would delay the critical national polls.

Many fear that the simmering conflict between the government and the opposition on which polls are to come first might trigger political unrest.

"The government is fully prepared to stage the local polls in October and the national election two months later as agreed in a road map by all quarters," said Anwarul Iqbal, head of the local government ministry.

The last parliament was dissolved in October 2006 and a general election was called on January 22, 2007, but it was stalled because of escalating violence.

President Iajuddin Ahmad called a state of emergency across the country that curbed basic rights and appointed a caretaker government headed by former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Media reports focusing on current political developments said the economy faced a major risk if the run-up to the general election is marked by chaos. (dpa)