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Pakistani troops besiege mosque | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Pakistani troops have sealed off the area around a mosque in Islamabad, a day after 10 people were killed in clashes at the site. | |
At daybreak, soldiers strung barbed wire across streets near the mosque, where armed students are barricaded. | |
Officials have imposed a 24-hour curfew and ordered those inside the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) to give up their weapons. | |
Pakistan's interior ministry has accused mosque leaders of treachery and of "tarnishing the image of Islam". | Pakistan's interior ministry has accused mosque leaders of treachery and of "tarnishing the image of Islam". |
The mosque and two religious schools attached to it - one for men, the other for women - have recently been the focus of several confrontations with the Pakistani authorities. | The mosque and two religious schools attached to it - one for men, the other for women - have recently been the focus of several confrontations with the Pakistani authorities. |
These have been provoked by the mosque's kidnapping of police officers and of people accused by religious leaders of involvement in prostitution. | These have been provoked by the mosque's kidnapping of police officers and of people accused by religious leaders of involvement in prostitution. |
Deserted roads | Deserted roads |
At a press conference at 0130 local time (2130 GMT) on Wednesday morning, Pakistan's Minister of State for the Interior, Zafar Iqbal Warraich, said an indefinite curfew had been imposed around the mosque. | At a press conference at 0130 local time (2130 GMT) on Wednesday morning, Pakistan's Minister of State for the Interior, Zafar Iqbal Warraich, said an indefinite curfew had been imposed around the mosque. |
An armoured personnel carrier... was met by a hail of fire Anger boils over at mosque | An armoured personnel carrier... was met by a hail of fire Anger boils over at mosque |
He said police, army and paramilitary units had taken up positions around the complex, with orders to shoot on sight anyone leaving the mosque carrying a weapon. | He said police, army and paramilitary units had taken up positions around the complex, with orders to shoot on sight anyone leaving the mosque carrying a weapon. |
Members of the mosque administration and students who surrendered their weapons would be offered an amnesty, Mr Warraich said. | Members of the mosque administration and students who surrendered their weapons would be offered an amnesty, Mr Warraich said. |
Both Mr Warraich and Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said there were no imminent plans to storm the mosque. | Both Mr Warraich and Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said there were no imminent plans to storm the mosque. |
According to the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, who visited the mosque after midnight, the roads around the building were deserted but for paramilitary troops. | According to the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, who visited the mosque after midnight, the roads around the building were deserted but for paramilitary troops. |
Injured | Injured |
Fighting around the Lal Masjid raged throughout much of Tuesday. | Fighting around the Lal Masjid raged throughout much of Tuesday. |
In pictures: Mosque violence Forces behind Red Mosque Profile: Red mosque | In pictures: Mosque violence Forces behind Red Mosque Profile: Red mosque |
A soldier, two students and a journalist were among the dead. More than 140 people were hurt in the violence, officials said. | A soldier, two students and a journalist were among the dead. More than 140 people were hurt in the violence, officials said. |
According to our correspondent, a ceasefire was eventually negotiated with the help of a politician from the MMA, a coalition of Islamic parties. | According to our correspondent, a ceasefire was eventually negotiated with the help of a politician from the MMA, a coalition of Islamic parties. |
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. | 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. |
Ambulances and journalists were told to move further away from the scene. | Ambulances and journalists were told to move further away from the scene. |
People fled from busy shopping areas as masked students traded fire with security forces. Dozens of other students - mostly armed with sticks and petrol bombs - patrolled the area. | People fled from busy shopping areas as masked students traded fire with security forces. Dozens of other students - mostly armed with sticks and petrol bombs - patrolled the area. |
'Security links' | 'Security links' |
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. |
President Musharraf has previously said security forces cannot raid the mosque for fear of reprisal suicide attacks. | President Musharraf has previously said security forces cannot raid the mosque for fear of reprisal suicide attacks. |
BBC correspondents say it is thought the mosque has powerful friends in the security services, which has prevented the authorities from taking action. | BBC correspondents say it is thought the mosque has powerful friends in the security services, which has prevented the authorities from taking action. |
But the fact that people have now been killed in the stand-off suggests the situation may be turning against the mosque leaders, our correspondents say. | But the fact that people have now been killed in the stand-off suggests the situation may be turning against the mosque leaders, our correspondents say. |