government DHAKA, Jan 13, SPA -- Bangladeshi troops and policeraided the homes of several political leaders overnight,local media reported Saturday, after a new caretakergovernment chief was sworn in to defuse a political crisis ahead of general elections, the Associated Press reported. Authorities detained at least 20 people including somelocal politicians in western and northern Bangladesh, butno prominent leaders were arrested, the Bengali-language"Prothom Alo" newspaper said. Troops and police also raided the homes of some closeaides to a number of political leaders but made no arrests. The raids came after President Iajuddin Ahmed on Friday swore in respected economist and former central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed as head of the country's caretaker government in a bid to restore calm to a nation beset by violence amid preparations for national elections, the Associated Press reported. Ahmed, who is also a former World Bank official, made no comment during the sudden swearing-in ceremony, which had been announced just minutes earlier. His appointment came less than 24 hours after President Ahmed had declared a state of emergency, postponed the Jan. 22 vote and stepped down himself as leader of the caretaker government amid often-violent protests.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/417597