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Pakistani mosque deadline expires | Pakistani mosque deadline expires |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A deadline set by Pakistan's government for Islamist students at a mosque in Islamabad to surrender has passed. | |
Troops have sealed off the area around the mosque, a day after 10 people were killed in clashes at the site. | Troops have sealed off the area around the mosque, 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. | At daybreak, soldiers strung barbed wire across streets near the mosque, where armed students are barricaded. |
A indefinite curfew is in place. Those inside the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) have been ordered to give up their weapons. | A indefinite curfew is in place. Those inside the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) have been ordered to give up their weapons. |
Clerics, acting as intermediaries, have held overnight talks with both sides, but there has been no sign of a breakthrough. | Clerics, acting as intermediaries, have held overnight talks with both sides, but there has been no sign of a breakthrough. |
The government set a deadline of 1100 local time (0600 GMT) for students to surrender on Wednesday. | The government set a deadline of 1100 local time (0600 GMT) for students to surrender on Wednesday. |
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 kidnapping of police officers and of people accused by religious leaders of involvement in prostitution by members of the mosque. | These have been provoked by the kidnapping of police officers and of people accused by religious leaders of involvement in prostitution by members of the mosque. |
Deserted roads | Deserted roads |
At a news conference at 0130 local time 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 news conference at 0130 local time 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 | |
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. |
A ceasefire was eventually negotiated with the help of a politician from the MMA, a coalition of Islamic parties. | 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 Pervez Musharraf has previously said security forces cannot raid the mosque for fear of reprisal suicide attacks. | President Pervez 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. |