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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Freed Red Mosque cleric defiant | Freed Red Mosque cleric defiant |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A hardline Pakistani cleric has delivered a defiant sermon at the Red Mosque, his first since being freed from house arrest over a 2007 siege. | A hardline Pakistani cleric has delivered a defiant sermon at the Red Mosque, his first since being freed from house arrest over a 2007 siege. |
| Chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz had been detained when troops stormed the Islamabad mosque to end the siege. | Chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz had been detained when troops stormed the Islamabad mosque to end the siege. |
| He told thousands of supporters at the mosque on Friday: "The day is not far away when Islam will be enforced in the whole of the country." | He told thousands of supporters at the mosque on Friday: "The day is not far away when Islam will be enforced in the whole of the country." |
| The storming of the mosque left more than 100 people dead. | The storming of the mosque left more than 100 people dead. |
| The action led to a wave of suicide bombings by militant groups in the north-west. | The action led to a wave of suicide bombings by militant groups in the north-west. |
| 'Peaceful work' | 'Peaceful work' |
| Religious eulogies rang out from loudspeakers as Maulana Aziz arrived to deliver his Friday afternoon sermon. | |
| His followers said they were in memory of those "martyred" two years ago. | |
| Maulana Aziz said to his supporters: "I tell you that you should be ready to make sacrifices for Islam. | |
| "What we have seen in Swat and the tribal areas is the result of the sacrifices at the Red Mosque: the students, the people who were martyred," he said. | "What we have seen in Swat and the tribal areas is the result of the sacrifices at the Red Mosque: the students, the people who were martyred," he said. |
| The storming of the Red Mosque shook Islamabad in 2007 | The storming of the Red Mosque shook Islamabad in 2007 |
| Maulana Aziz was referring to the government's approval of the Sharia justice system in the north-western Swat region. Some Western powers fear that deal may be a capitulation to militants. | Maulana Aziz was referring to the government's approval of the Sharia justice system in the north-western Swat region. Some Western powers fear that deal may be a capitulation to militants. |
| Since his release on bail on Thursday, Maulana Aziz, in his remarks to the media, had described himself a peaceful man who did not support and had not been involved in ordering suicide bombings. | Since his release on bail on Thursday, Maulana Aziz, in his remarks to the media, had described himself a peaceful man who did not support and had not been involved in ordering suicide bombings. |
| But the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that between the lines the cleric did offer justification for such attacks by saying that the Pakistani government was "fighting other people's wars". | But the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that between the lines the cleric did offer justification for such attacks by saying that the Pakistani government was "fighting other people's wars". |
| The cleric said that he was not seeking revenge for the Red Mosque killings - the dead included his brother and deputy, Abdur Rashid Ghazi, his mother and his son. | The cleric said that he was not seeking revenge for the Red Mosque killings - the dead included his brother and deputy, Abdur Rashid Ghazi, his mother and his son. |
| Instead, he said he would "peacefully work" for the implementation of an Islamic political system in the country. | Instead, he said he would "peacefully work" for the implementation of an Islamic political system in the country. |
| Our correspondent says it was clear Maulana Aziz would have to be freed as he was only accused of abetting crimes and the prosecution had failed to put together convincing proof. | Our correspondent says it was clear Maulana Aziz would have to be freed as he was only accused of abetting crimes and the prosecution had failed to put together convincing proof. |
| The raid on the mosque in 2007 was prompted by the presence inside the building of dozens of heavily-armed militants. | The raid on the mosque in 2007 was prompted by the presence inside the building of dozens of heavily-armed militants. |
| Its storming angered Islamic hardliners. Suicide bombings and other attacks have continued almost unabated since then. | Its storming angered Islamic hardliners. Suicide bombings and other attacks have continued almost unabated since then. |
| Maulana Aziz had been arrested while trying to escape the siege disguised as a woman. |