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Bangladesh mutineers 'arrested' | Bangladesh mutineers 'arrested' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Some 200 members of Bangladesh's border security force involved in a two-day mutiny have been arrested while trying to escape, security officials say. | Some 200 members of Bangladesh's border security force involved in a two-day mutiny have been arrested while trying to escape, security officials say. |
The Bangladesh Rifles guards tried to flee their headquarters in the capital Dhaka, where the mutiny began, while dressed as civilians, a spokesman said. | The Bangladesh Rifles guards tried to flee their headquarters in the capital Dhaka, where the mutiny began, while dressed as civilians, a spokesman said. |
The compound is now being searched for more than 130 army officers who were held hostage and are now feared dead. | The compound is now being searched for more than 130 army officers who were held hostage and are now feared dead. |
The official death toll from the revolt stands at 22, with dozens injured. | The official death toll from the revolt stands at 22, with dozens injured. |
"We have arrested nearly 200... troops who fled their barracks in civilian dress. We were given orders to arrest the mutineers," a spokesman for the elite Rapid Action Battalion, Commander Abul Kalam Azad, told the AFP news agency. | "We have arrested nearly 200... troops who fled their barracks in civilian dress. We were given orders to arrest the mutineers," a spokesman for the elite Rapid Action Battalion, Commander Abul Kalam Azad, told the AFP news agency. |
Bangladesh spared more gunfireIn pictures: Bangladesh violenceQ&A: Border guards mutinyEyewitness: Bangladesh mutiny | Bangladesh spared more gunfireIn pictures: Bangladesh violenceQ&A: Border guards mutinyEyewitness: Bangladesh mutiny |
He said checkpoints had been set up at roads leading out of Dhaka and surrounding the border guard barracks. | He said checkpoints had been set up at roads leading out of Dhaka and surrounding the border guard barracks. |
"We are searching buses and trucks for any other rebel troops," he said. | "We are searching buses and trucks for any other rebel troops," he said. |
The border with India has been shut, Indian border security officials in Calcutta told the BBC. | The border with India has been shut, Indian border security officials in Calcutta told the BBC. |
Search of sewers | Search of sewers |
Bangladeshi troops have entered the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in the hunt for missing officers. | Bangladeshi troops have entered the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters in the hunt for missing officers. |
An armed forces spokesman said that only 31 of the 168 officers inside the compound have been accounted for. | |
"We don't know what happened to the rest of the 137 officers. They are still missing," he said. | "We don't know what happened to the rest of the 137 officers. They are still missing," he said. |
One regular army officer who managed to escape said the hostage-takers had opened fire indiscriminately. | |
"It was cold-blooded murder," Syed M Kamruzzaman told the AFP. | |
"They hurled abuse at us and gunned down whoever they wanted. I was shot at seven times and was lucky to get out alive." | |
He said BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed had been shot in front of him, although there is no official confirmation of his death. | |
Rescue workers are searching sewers and under manhole covers. | Rescue workers are searching sewers and under manhole covers. |
Seven BDR troopers were also killed in the clashes, along with four civilians, including one boy. | Seven BDR troopers were also killed in the clashes, along with four civilians, including one boy. |
Amnesty offer | Amnesty offer |
The crisis began on Wednesday at about 0930 local time (0330 GMT) with heavy fighting. | The crisis began on Wednesday at about 0930 local time (0330 GMT) with heavy fighting. |
An army helicopter patrolling above the barracks was shot at and mortar rounds were also fired. | An army helicopter patrolling above the barracks was shot at and mortar rounds were also fired. |
Relatives of the missing officers gather outside the BDR compound | |
Rank-and-file members of the BDR were said to be angry over their pay and conditions. The average BDR trooper earns about $70 (£49) a month, equivalent to the pay of a low-ranking government clerk, while their senior officers, in contrast, are relatively well-paid army officers. | Rank-and-file members of the BDR were said to be angry over their pay and conditions. The average BDR trooper earns about $70 (£49) a month, equivalent to the pay of a low-ranking government clerk, while their senior officers, in contrast, are relatively well-paid army officers. |
They ended their mutiny on Thursday after tanks surrounded the barracks and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina threatened tough action unless they surrendered. | They ended their mutiny on Thursday after tanks surrounded the barracks and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina threatened tough action unless they surrendered. |
In a televised address to the nation, Sheikh Hasina called on the guards to abandon what she called their "suicidal action". | In a televised address to the nation, Sheikh Hasina called on the guards to abandon what she called their "suicidal action". |
"Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks," she said. | "Lay down your guns immediately and go back to barracks," she said. |
"Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience." | "Do not force me to take tough actions or push my patience." |
The government has offered the border guards a general amnesty, although that is unlikely to extend to the ringleaders of the mutiny or those responsible for killing the officers, the BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka says. | The government has offered the border guards a general amnesty, although that is unlikely to extend to the ringleaders of the mutiny or those responsible for killing the officers, the BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka says. |
The BDR has nearly 70,000 men stationed at 42 camps across the country, including 40,000 on the borders. | The BDR has nearly 70,000 men stationed at 42 camps across the country, including 40,000 on the borders. |
It is unclear if mutineers at bases outside Dhaka have also given up. | It is unclear if mutineers at bases outside Dhaka have also given up. |
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