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| Blasts at radical Pakistan mosque | Blasts at radical Pakistan mosque |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| There have been two large explosions in the buildings of a rebellious mosque in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, which is being besieged by security forces. | There have been two large explosions in the buildings of a rebellious mosque in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, which is being besieged by security forces. |
| Much of the compound of the radical Red Mosque is covered in smoke. | Much of the compound of the radical Red Mosque is covered in smoke. |
| Nineteen people have been killed in three days of clashes at the mosque, where 300-400 students remain, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao has said. | Nineteen people have been killed in three days of clashes at the mosque, where 300-400 students remain, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao has said. |
| The mosque's chief cleric, who was captured on Wednesday, has urged the militant students to surrender or flee. | |
| His deputy now says the students will leave the complex if the security forces cease fire. | |
| The government says that if the students leave unarmed, with their hands in the air, they will be taken into custody. | |
| The clerics have been campaigning for Islamic Sharia law in Islamabad. | The clerics have been campaigning for Islamic Sharia law in Islamabad. |
| Students have kidnapped police officers and people they accuse of involvement in "immoral" acts such as prostitution. | Students have kidnapped police officers and people they accuse of involvement in "immoral" acts such as prostitution. |
| 'Massive' siege | 'Massive' siege |
| Security officials say the blasts at the mosque and attached religious school on Thursday evening were probably caused by mortars belonging to the students going off by mistake. | Security officials say the blasts at the mosque and attached religious school on Thursday evening were probably caused by mortars belonging to the students going off by mistake. |
| Soldiers and paramilitary police encircling the complex moved closer to the building, the BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says. | Soldiers and paramilitary police encircling the complex moved closer to the building, the BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says. |
| On Wednesday, the head of the mosque, Maulana Abdul Aziz was caught trying to leave the Red Mosque in a burqa. | |
| In comments to state television on Thursday, he said he realised people inside the mosque could not hold out for long. | |
| Students... should either leave, if they can, or surrender Maulana Abdul Aziz In pictures: Mosque stand-off | Students... should either leave, if they can, or surrender Maulana Abdul Aziz In pictures: Mosque stand-off |
| "After coming out I saw the siege was massive and came to the conclusion that we should give up," he said. | "After coming out I saw the siege was massive and came to the conclusion that we should give up," he said. |
| He said only a few of the hundreds still inside the mosque were armed. | He said only a few of the hundreds still inside the mosque were armed. |
| "I have told them not to sacrifice their lives for me." | "I have told them not to sacrifice their lives for me." |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the radicals do not have much support in the capital and people are quite glad to see the government taking them on. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the radicals do not have much support in the capital and people are quite glad to see the government taking them on. |
| But the authorities' action is likely to upset people in the more conservative North-West Frontier province, where most of the students come from. | But the authorities' action is likely to upset people in the more conservative North-West Frontier province, where most of the students come from. |
| 'Suicide bombers' | 'Suicide bombers' |
| Pakistani troops have been tightening their grip around the mosque in recent days. | Pakistani troops have been tightening their grip around the mosque in recent days. |
| They set off a series of eight explosions outside the mosque before dawn on Thursday. No casualties have been reported but there was some damage to the mosque. | They set off a series of eight explosions outside the mosque before dawn on Thursday. No casualties have been reported but there was some damage to the mosque. |
| Profile: Red Mosque Anguish of mosque parents Suspicions over mosque | Profile: Red Mosque Anguish of mosque parents Suspicions over mosque |
| "All people in the mosque should surrender or they will be responsible for losses," said the police warning broadcast over loudspeakers, according to witnesses quoted by Reuters news agency. | "All people in the mosque should surrender or they will be responsible for losses," said the police warning broadcast over loudspeakers, according to witnesses quoted by Reuters news agency. |
| The government said more than 1,200 students had surrendered so far, and that their details were being recorded at a camp set up near the mosque. | The government said more than 1,200 students had surrendered so far, and that their details were being recorded at a camp set up near the mosque. |
| Following the expiry of an 0900 local time (0500 GMT) deadline on Thursday, at least four more female students and one male student were seen giving themselves up. | Following the expiry of an 0900 local time (0500 GMT) deadline on Thursday, at least four more female students and one male student were seen giving themselves up. |
| The mosque leaders have warned of suicide bombings if security forces storm the complex. | The mosque leaders have warned of suicide bombings if security forces storm the complex. |
| But one student, Johar Ali, 20, said as he left that he had not seen any suicide bombers among those inside. | But one student, Johar Ali, 20, said as he left that he had not seen any suicide bombers among those inside. |
| Others said many students were ready for "martyrdom". | Others said many students were ready for "martyrdom". |
| The students holding out in the mosque are now led by Maulana Aziz's brother, Abdul Rashid Ghazi. | The students holding out in the mosque are now led by Maulana Aziz's brother, Abdul Rashid Ghazi. |
| He said the radicals would not surrender unless troops pulled back. | He said the radicals would not surrender unless troops pulled back. |
| Some children are thought to be in the mosque, but Mr Ghazi reportedly refused to allow their release despite requests from parents. | Some children are thought to be in the mosque, but Mr Ghazi reportedly refused to allow their release despite requests from parents. |
| Our correspondent says the threat of force is likely to remain but that talks are expected to continue. | Our correspondent says the threat of force is likely to remain but that talks are expected to continue. |
| Barriers | Barriers |
| 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. |
| Maulana Abdul Aziz was caught as he tried to escape in a burqa | Maulana Abdul Aziz was caught as he tried to escape in a burqa |
| 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. |
| The violence took the stand-off to a new level, leaving the authorities little choice but to bring the situation to a conclusion, correspondents say. | The violence took the stand-off to a new level, leaving the authorities little choice but to bring the situation to a conclusion, correspondents say. |
| Have you been caught up in the violence? Have you witnessed the security operation? Please complete the form below. | Have you been caught up in the violence? Have you witnessed the security operation? Please complete the form below. |