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Hundreds leave Pakistani mosque | Hundreds leave Pakistani mosque |
(10 minutes later) | |
At least 700 students have surrendered at a mosque besieged by Pakistani security forces in the capital, Islamabad, officials say. | At least 700 students have surrendered at a mosque besieged by Pakistani security forces in the capital, Islamabad, officials say. |
Militant students inside the compound have been told to give themselves up, after fierce gun battles with security forces killed 10 people on Tuesday. | Militant students inside the compound have been told to give themselves up, after fierce gun battles with security forces killed 10 people on Tuesday. |
Several thousand people remain inside the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) complex, many young students at a girls' school. | Several thousand people remain inside the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) complex, many young students at a girls' school. |
Clerics at the mosque are campaigning for Islamic Sharia law to be enforced. | Clerics at the mosque are campaigning for Islamic Sharia law to be enforced. |
'They are children' | 'They are children' |
Troops sealed off the area around the mosque after Tuesday's clashes and no-one is able to get within about one kilometre of the site. | Troops sealed off the area around the mosque after Tuesday's clashes and no-one is able to get within about one kilometre of the site. |
They only want martyrdom - they don't want to go home Maryam Qayyeum, 15 Student leaving mosque Anger boils over at mosque Forces behind Red Mosque | They only want martyrdom - they don't want to go home Maryam Qayyeum, 15 Student leaving mosque Anger boils over at mosque Forces behind Red Mosque |
At daybreak, soldiers strung barbed wire across streets near the mosque, where armed students have barricaded themselves in. | At daybreak, soldiers strung barbed wire across streets near the mosque, where armed students have barricaded themselves in. |
"My two daughters are inside and I am worried about them," one parent, Mohammad Javed, told the BBC. "They are 14 and 10 years old. | "My two daughters are inside and I am worried about them," one parent, Mohammad Javed, told the BBC. "They are 14 and 10 years old. |
"I have talked to them and they are willing to die for Islam. It is the government's fault, they should back down." | "I have talked to them and they are willing to die for Islam. It is the government's fault, they should back down." |
Another man said he had been trying to persuade his brother to come out. | Another man said he had been trying to persuade his brother to come out. |
"What the students are doing is because they are immature and young... They don't understand the consequences." | "What the students are doing is because they are immature and young... They don't understand the consequences." |
An indefinite curfew is in place around the Red Mosque, and power and water supplies have been cut off. | An indefinite curfew is in place around the Red Mosque, and power and water supplies have been cut off. |
Those inside have been ordered to give up their weapons, although officials have said they do not want more bloodshed. | Those inside have been ordered to give up their weapons, although officials have said they do not want more bloodshed. |
Hard core | Hard core |
Clerics, acting as intermediaries, held overnight talks with both sides, but there has been no sign of a breakthrough. | Clerics, acting as intermediaries, held overnight talks with both sides, but there has been no sign of a breakthrough. |
In pictures: Mosque violence Profile: Red Mosque | In pictures: Mosque violence Profile: Red Mosque |
At least two deadlines set by the government for students to surrender have passed. | At least two deadlines set by the government for students to surrender have passed. |
The government has said women and children can go free, but top mosque leaders and males involved in killings and other crimes will face prosecution. | The government has said women and children can go free, but top mosque leaders and males involved in killings and other crimes will face prosecution. |
Officials say several thousand students remain inside the mosque compound. It is not clear how large the hard core of radicals is. | Officials say several thousand students remain inside the mosque compound. It is not clear how large the hard core of radicals is. |
In addition to those killed, more than 140 people were hurt during Tuesday's violence, officials said. | In addition to those killed, more than 140 people were hurt during Tuesday's violence, officials said. |
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' |
The mosque and the 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 the 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's male and female students took part in the stand-off | |
These have been provoked by the kidnapping of police officers and of people accused of involvement in prostitution by members of the mosque. | These have been provoked by the kidnapping of police officers and of people accused of involvement in prostitution by members of 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. |
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. |