DHAKA: Top US diplomat for South Asia on Thursday said her country hopes due process will be followed after an anti-corruption court in Bangladesh issued arrest warrants for former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia. 

Nisha Biswal, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, at a news briefing at Washington, told the political tension needed to be addressed internally, but the United States stood ready to help.

"We do hope and expect there will be due process in terms of pursuing of any charges," Biswal said.

"It's also equally important that the government provides space for peaceful political opposition to be able to exist and to create an inclusive political processes," she said.

The warrants for Khaleda were issued on Wednesday, an action likely to increase tension fuelling anti-government protests in which more than 100 people have been killed in the past month.

The anti-graft court's warrants were over cases in which Khaleda is accused of embezzling $650,000 during her last term as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Khaleda is also facing charges of instigating violence.

BDST: 1758 HRS, FEB 27, 2015