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| Pakistan's president urges calm | Pakistan's president urges calm |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm after 34 people died in the country's worst political violence in years. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm after 34 people died in the country's worst political violence in years. |
| Supporters of President Pervez Musharraf fought street battles with those of top judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, suspended by the president. | Supporters of President Pervez Musharraf fought street battles with those of top judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, suspended by the president. |
| Mr Chaudhry abandoned plans to address a rally in the city. | Mr Chaudhry abandoned plans to address a rally in the city. |
| Opposition groups blamed the pro-Musharraf MQM party of organising the unrest, but it denied the claim. | Opposition groups blamed the pro-Musharraf MQM party of organising the unrest, but it denied the claim. |
| Speaking at a mass rally in Islamabad on Saturday night, Mr Musharraf ruled out declaring a state of emergency and appealed to the country to stand united. | Speaking at a mass rally in Islamabad on Saturday night, Mr Musharraf ruled out declaring a state of emergency and appealed to the country to stand united. |
| He blamed "elements who tried to create turmoil by politicising" Chief Justice Chaudhry's suspension. | He blamed "elements who tried to create turmoil by politicising" Chief Justice Chaudhry's suspension. |
| If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests President Pervez Musharraf href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6650863.stm">Familiar theme to violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6650445.stm">Lawless streets | |
| Speaking behind bullet-proof glass, he said a judicial panel was examining the case. | Speaking behind bullet-proof glass, he said a judicial panel was examining the case. |
| He also criticised Mr Chaudhry, saying the top judge had ignored warnings against travelling to Karachi. | He also criticised Mr Chaudhry, saying the top judge had ignored warnings against travelling to Karachi. |
| Mr Chaudhry flew from Islamabad to Karachi on Saturday morning, planning to address a rally in the city. | Mr Chaudhry flew from Islamabad to Karachi on Saturday morning, planning to address a rally in the city. |
| But after landing, he was unable to leave the airport, because roads into the city were blocked. | But after landing, he was unable to leave the airport, because roads into the city were blocked. |
| After several hours, Mr Chaudhry abandoned his plans and returned to Islamabad. | After several hours, Mr Chaudhry abandoned his plans and returned to Islamabad. |
| The president also appealed to the demonstrators, saying: "If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests." | The president also appealed to the demonstrators, saying: "If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests." |
| Cause celebre | Cause celebre |
| Since his suspension on charges of "misuse of authority", Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of Mr Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. | Since his suspension on charges of "misuse of authority", Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of widespread opposition to the government of Mr Musharraf, who took power in a coup in 1999. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says opposition parties have turned Mr Chaudhry's case into a campaign against military rule. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says opposition parties have turned Mr Chaudhry's case into a campaign against military rule. |
| CHAUDHRY SUSPENSION 9 March: Musharraf suspends Chaudhry for "misuse of authority"16 March: Violence at pro-Chaudhry rally in Islamabad3 April: Chaudhry appears before private session of court6 May: Large rally in support of Chaudhry in Lahore12 May: Violence in Karachi, ahead of planned rally Timeline: Judicial crisis His supporters say that Mr Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. | CHAUDHRY SUSPENSION 9 March: Musharraf suspends Chaudhry for "misuse of authority"16 March: Violence at pro-Chaudhry rally in Islamabad3 April: Chaudhry appears before private session of court6 May: Large rally in support of Chaudhry in Lahore12 May: Violence in Karachi, ahead of planned rally Timeline: Judicial crisis His supporters say that Mr Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. |
| Our correspondent says tension had been building ahead of the judge's visit when the local authorities announced plans for a counter rally. | Our correspondent says tension had been building ahead of the judge's visit when the local authorities announced plans for a counter rally. |
| But she says the scale of the confrontation took people by surprise. | But she says the scale of the confrontation took people by surprise. |
| In the worst violence, MQM supporters and activists from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto fought gun battles for an hour. | In the worst violence, MQM supporters and activists from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto fought gun battles for an hour. |
| The private Aaj TV channel showed pictures of its office under fire. "We are under attack," said journalist Talat Hussain on air, sheltering behind a wall. | The private Aaj TV channel showed pictures of its office under fire. "We are under attack," said journalist Talat Hussain on air, sheltering behind a wall. |
| "It is state-sponsored terrorism. The Sindh [province] government is responsible but we are not going to back off," said Sherry Rehman of the PPP. | "It is state-sponsored terrorism. The Sindh [province] government is responsible but we are not going to back off," said Sherry Rehman of the PPP. |
| An MQM spokesman denied his party was involved in the violence at the TV station. | An MQM spokesman denied his party was involved in the violence at the TV station. |
| A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members in Karachi had also been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city. | A lawyers' spokesman told the BBC that bar association members in Karachi had also been attacked by MQM activists in various parts of the city. |
| The lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the Sindh High Court premises where Mr Chaudhry had been due to speak. | The lawyers say that activists attacked them and prevented them from entering the Sindh High Court premises where Mr Chaudhry had been due to speak. |