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Clashes erupt at Pakistan mosque Clashes erupt at Pakistan mosque
(30 minutes later)
A Pakistani soldier and two radical Islamist students have been killed in clashes outside a rebellious mosque in Islamabad, officials and doctors say. At least seven people have died in clashes between security forces and militant students at a mosque in the Pakistani capital, officials say.
The clashes injured scores more with many students hurt by police tear gas. A soldier, two policemen and two students are among the dead.
Firing by both sides is continuing. Security forces have now taken up positions around the mosque. After several hours of shooting outside the controversial Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) a ceasefire was negotiated.
Armed students and clerics at the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) have openly defied the authorities for months in their campaign for Islamic Sharia law. Armed students at the mosque and religious schools linked to it have defied the authorities for months in a campaign for Islamic Sharia law.
The mosque and the two madrassas (religious schools) attached to it have been at the centre of a number of high-profile incidents.The mosque and the two madrassas (religious schools) attached to it have been at the centre of a number of high-profile incidents.
These include the kidnapping of police and people the mosque says are involved in immoral activities such as prostitution.These include the kidnapping of police and people the mosque says are involved in immoral activities such as prostitution.
InjuredInjured
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan who is outside the mosque says sporadic shooting by both sides can still be heard, several hours after gunfire first broke out. The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan who is outside the mosque says the ceasefire was negotiated by a politician from the MMA, a coalition of Islamic parties.
Police and doctors say two policemen, one soldier, two students and a passer-by were killed. A cameraman filming the violence also died.
Other reports put the death toll at more than 10.
In pictures: Mosque violence Profile: Red mosqueIn pictures: Mosque violence Profile: Red mosque
He says regular police and paramilitary units ringing the mosque compound have now been replaced by what appear to be special forces. Ambulances and journalists have been told to move further away. At the height of the violence, regular police and paramilitary units ringing the mosque compound were replaced by what appeared to be special forces, our correspondent says.
Dozens of students - mostly armed with sticks and petrol bombs, but some with guns and wearing masks - are patrolling around the mosque. Ambulances and journalists were told to move further away from the scene.
The death of the paramilitary soldier was believed to be the first casualty in the stand-off between the authorities and the students. Large groups of students - mostly armed with sticks and petrol bombs, but some with guns and wearing masks - have been patrolling around the mosque.
"I can confirm that one of our troopers has been killed in the firing from inside the mosque," a senior paramilitary official, Masha Allah, told reporters outside the Lal Masjid. The first confirmed death on Tuesday - of a paramilitary soldier - was the first fatality in the prolonged stand-off between the authorities and the students.
A senior paramilitary official, Masha Allah, told reporters outside the Lal Masjid that he had been "killed in the firing from inside the mosque".
Doctors at a nearby hospital later said two students had also succumbed to their gunshot injuries.Doctors at a nearby hospital later said two students had also succumbed to their gunshot injuries.
At least one policeman is also reported to have been wounded.
The students say scores of people from the mosque have been affected by the tear gas.The students say scores of people from the mosque have been affected by the tear gas.
Doctors confirmed they were treating about 60 people suffering the effects of tear gas, the Associated Press news agency reported. Several students had bullet wounds, doctors said.Doctors confirmed they were treating about 60 people suffering the effects of tear gas, the Associated Press news agency reported. Several students had bullet wounds, doctors said.
KidnappingsKidnappings
There are two religious schools (madrassas) attached to the mosque, one for men, one for women.There are two religious schools (madrassas) attached to the mosque, one for men, one for women.
Tuesday's trouble started when a group of female students came out in large numbers and the paramilitary police used tear gas against them.Tuesday's trouble started when a group of female students came out in large numbers and the paramilitary police used tear gas against them.
Extra police had been deployed around the mosque earlier in the day.Extra police had been deployed around the mosque earlier in the day.
An official said the move was to prevent the seminary students from taking the law into their own hands.An official said the move was to prevent the seminary students from taking the law into their own hands.
Mosque leaders say the security forces started the trouble by erecting barricades near the mosque.Mosque leaders say the security forces started the trouble by erecting barricades near the mosque.
Critics have attacked the government for failing to enforce its authority in the capital.Critics have attacked the government for failing to enforce its authority in the capital.
Correspondents say the authorities have seemed unwilling or unable to act. President Musharraf has said security forces cannot raid the mosque for fear of reprisal suicide attacks.Correspondents say the authorities have seemed unwilling or unable to act. President Musharraf has said security forces cannot raid the mosque for fear of reprisal suicide attacks.