1.   A neutral caretaker government will now assume power as campaigning begins for fall elections.

2.   The opposition Awami League, led by Sheik Hasina Wazed, led the election boycott after the Zia government refused demands that a neutral caretaker government conduct the poll.

3.   Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, however, demanded that the prime minister resign immediately and order elections under the supervision of a neutral caretaker government.

4.   Opposition groups hope to force Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to resign and call elections supervised by a neutral caretaker government.

5.   Opposition parties have enforced strikes for nearly two years to force out Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and constitute a neutral caretaker government to oversee nationwide general elections.

6.   Opposition parties have repeatedly urged the president to appoint a neutral caretaker government and call fresh elections.

7.   Opposition parties have vowed to boycott the election unless Prime Minister Khaleda Zia resigns and transfers power to a neutral caretaker administrator to conduct the vote.

8.   Parliament is on Thursday to pass an amendment to the constitution to allow a neutral caretaker government to conduct all future elections.

9.   Prime Minister Khaleda Zia agreed last week to an opposition demand that future elections be held by a neutral caretaker government.

10.   Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was weighing her resignation Wednesday, a day after Parliament cleared the way for a neutral caretaker authority to hold new elections.