This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6232746.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pakistan students storm 'brothel' Pakistan students free hostages
(about 2 hours later)
Students from a radical mosque in Islamabad have abducted nine people, including six Chinese women, accusing them of prostitution. Students from a radical mosque in Islamabad have released nine hostages, including six Chinese women, whom they accused of prostitution.
The students, who were reportedly armed with batons, broke into an acupuncture clinic in a residential part of the city which they said was a brothel. A top cleric at the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) said they were freed after the authorities gave assurances they would shut down mixed-sex massage parlours.
They assaulted three armed guards and then raided the compound. The students broke into an acupuncture clinic late on Friday in the Pakistan capital, which they said was a brothel.
It is the latest in a series of acts by hardliners from the Pakistani capital's Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) since January. It is the latest in a series of acts by hardliners from the mosque this year.
Their activities reveal the growth of Taleban support in the country. "After the administration assured us they would close down the massage parlours in Islamabad, and in view of the Pakistan-China friendship, we are releasing all nine men and women," said Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy head of the Red Mosque.
A mosque spokesman has accused the Chinese acupuncture and health centre of promoting sin. He said the massage of men by women was "not allowed according to the values of Islam".
The Chinese ambassador has called on the head of Pakistan's ruling party to help release the hostages. The Interior Ministry said the abduction was a "shocking and unlawful act".
'Immoral activities''Immoral activities'
The pro-Taleban students raided the centre late on Friday night. The pro-Taleban students raided the Chinese acupuncture and health centre late on Friday. They were armed with batons and assaulted three armed guards.
In a statement they said: "The foreign women were involved in prostitution in a massage centre". In a statement they said the foreign women were involved in prostitution and that they were brought to the mosque to teach them not to indulge in "anti-social activities".
Students said they wanted the group to give up their "immoral activities". The abductions of the six women and three men were described as "a natural reaction by students against vulgarity and obscenity."
"We have not kidnapped anyone but have brought six foreign women and three men to persuade them," they said, according to Reuters news agency.
"It is a natural reaction by students against vulgarity and obscenity."
The mosque has been openly defying the government for months, resulting in a tense stand-off.The mosque has been openly defying the government for months, resulting in a tense stand-off.
Officials have tried to appease the mosque and its students with talks and concessions, saying they do not want to use force against the women and in a holy place.Officials have tried to appease the mosque and its students with talks and concessions, saying they do not want to use force against the women and in a holy place.
But critics have attacked the government for failing to enforce its authority in the capital city. But critics have attacked the government for failing to enforce its authority in the capital.