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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Explosions rock Pakistan mosque | Explosions rock Pakistan mosque |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Several loud explosions have been heard at a mosque in the Pakistani capital where armed Islamic students have been resisting a siege by security forces. | Several loud explosions have been heard at a mosque in the Pakistani capital where armed Islamic students have been resisting a siege by security forces. |
| At least 16 people have died in recent clashes at Islamabad's Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) complex. | At least 16 people have died in recent clashes at Islamabad's Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) complex. |
| Pakistani authorities have sent troops and police to seal off the mosque and have urged its students to surrender. | Pakistani authorities have sent troops and police to seal off the mosque and have urged its students to surrender. |
| The mosque has been at the forefront of a vigilante campaign to enforce a form of Islamic Sharia law in Pakistan. | The mosque has been at the forefront of a vigilante campaign to enforce a form of Islamic Sharia law in Pakistan. |
| Its students have kidnapped police officers and people they accuse of involvement in "immoral" acts such as prostitution. | Its students have kidnapped police officers and people they accuse of involvement in "immoral" acts such as prostitution. |
| Cleric captured | Cleric captured |
| It is not clear what caused the explosions in the early hours of Thursday morning, as reporters were being kept away from the site by police. | It is not clear what caused the explosions in the early hours of Thursday morning, as reporters were being kept away from the site by police. |
| In pictures: After violence href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6270396.stm">Profile: Red mosque Anger boils over at mosque | |
| The explosions were followed by a loudspeaker announcement calling again on those inside to surrender. | |
| Farooq Anwar, a police official, told the Associated Press news agency that security forces had responded to shots fired from the mosque compound. | Farooq Anwar, a police official, told the Associated Press news agency that security forces had responded to shots fired from the mosque compound. |
| On Wednesday, hundreds of students were allowed to leave the mosque after they were screened by police. | |
| One of the mosque's senior clerics was captured by police as he tried to leave the building disguised as a woman. | One of the mosque's senior clerics was captured by police as he tried to leave the building disguised as a woman. |
| Maulana Abdul Aziz was caught wearing the burqa, an all-enveloping sheet-like dress adopted by some Muslim women. | Maulana Abdul Aziz was caught wearing the burqa, an all-enveloping sheet-like dress adopted by some Muslim women. |
| A security official told the AFP news agency the cleric was noticed because his height and his large stomach set him apart from the women he was with. | A security official told the AFP news agency the cleric was noticed because his height and his large stomach set him apart from the women he was with. |
| Pakistani President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has long been criticised for failing to clamp down on the mosque's activities. | Pakistani President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has long been criticised for failing to clamp down on the mosque's activities. |
| The latest confrontation reportedly started when security forces tried to place barriers around the mosque. | The latest confrontation reportedly started when security forces tried to place barriers around the mosque. |
| On Tuesday, women students of one of two seminaries attached to the mosque protested in the street, while their male counterparts traded gunfire with security forces. | On Tuesday, women students of one of two seminaries attached to the mosque protested in the street, while their male counterparts traded gunfire with security forces. |
| At least 16 people died in the violence and scores were hurt. | At least 16 people died in the violence and scores were hurt. |