Violence engulfed Bangladesh on Friday and Saturday

President Iajuddin Ahmed will meet the party leaders separately.

Two days of violence began on Friday when the opposition objected to the nomination of ex-Chief Justice KM Hasan to head an interim administration.

The new cabinet will be charged with organising elections. Mr Hasan later withdrew from his planned inauguration.

The opposition Awami League accused him of being a stooge of the government, sent supporters on to the streets and threatened to paralyse the country.

Police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrations. At least 14 people were killed and hundreds of others were wounded in the violence.

Calm returns

On Saturday Mr Hasan pulled out just before he was due to be sworn in, and Mr Ahmed urged parties to find a replacement by Sunday afternoon.

The Awami League and the governing Bangladesh National Party agreed to hold talks.

Unrest dominates press

The BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka says the president's action has brought a degree of calm to the capital's streets.

Outgoing PM Khaleda Zia, whose mandate expired on Friday, could stay in office as a caretaker for up to 15 days if the two sides fail to reach agreement on a new interim leader.

Under Bangladesh's unique system, when an administration comes to the end of its term, it hands over to an unelected interim government which has 90 days to organise elections.

The opposition has been demanding a say in choosing the "chief adviser", as the interim prime minister is known.

Our correspondent says Bangladeshi politics is especially bitter because of the personal rivalry between Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Mrs Zia.

They have led the country in alternate terms since 1991 but have not spoken for years.