DHAKA, Bangladesh — President Hussain Mohammed Ershad resigned today after ruling the country for eight years, handing power to an interim leader chosen by the opposition.
Ershad, a former army general who took power in a 1982 coup, had faced seven weeks of often violent nationwide protests against his government.
On Tuesday, he promised to step down as soon as a replacement was named. Earlier today, Ershad lifted the state of emergency in effect since Nov. 27.
Later, he administered the oath of office to Supreme Court Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, a political independent nominated by the country’s opposition parties as caretaker vice president. Then he signed a letter of resignation, making him acting president.
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