The United States called Monday for all sides to avoid violence in Bangladesh, where long-ruling prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled following protests.
"We urge all parties to refrain from further violence. Too many lives have been lost over the course of the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
"We welcome the announcement of an interim government and urge any transition be conducted in accordance with Bangladesh's laws," he said.
Miller said the United States was "deeply saddened about the reports of human rights abuses, casualties and injuries over the weekend and past weeks."
Hasina largely had a productive relationship with the United States, which saw her as a partner on priorities such as countering Islamist extremism and sheltering Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar.
But the United States had increasingly criticized her for autocratic tendencies and imposes visa sanctions over concerns on democracy.