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| Pakistan mosque siege intensifies | Pakistan mosque siege intensifies |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani police have stepped up their operations at a mosque in Islamabad, on the fifth day of confrontation with radical Islamists barricaded there. | Pakistani police have stepped up their operations at a mosque in Islamabad, on the fifth day of confrontation with radical Islamists barricaded there. |
| Sporadic bursts of gunfire and heavy blasts rocked the Red Mosque overnight after armoured vehicles moved in. | Sporadic bursts of gunfire and heavy blasts rocked the Red Mosque overnight after armoured vehicles moved in. |
| Police seized control of a seminary in the capital run by clerics from the mosque, arresting dozens of students. | Police seized control of a seminary in the capital run by clerics from the mosque, arresting dozens of students. |
| Several hundred people, including children, have been holding out against the authorities since Tuesday. | Several hundred people, including children, have been holding out against the authorities since Tuesday. |
| Water and power to the mosque have been cut off and food is said to be getting scarce. | Water and power to the mosque have been cut off and food is said to be getting scarce. |
| Heavy exchanges of fire erupted at the complex on Friday. | |
| In pictures: Siege scenes Press welcomes tactics Profile: Red Mosque | In pictures: Siege scenes Press welcomes tactics Profile: Red Mosque |
| An attempt by a group of students to break out sparked a co-ordinated assault on three sides by armoured personnel carriers and rangers. | |
| Two students were killed and at least 10 wounded, four of them seriously. | Two students were killed and at least 10 wounded, four of them seriously. |
| At least 19 people have been killed since the start of the stand-off. | |
| The two explosions overnight were the biggest so far in the siege and were heard as far as 8km (5 miles) away. | The two explosions overnight were the biggest so far in the siege and were heard as far as 8km (5 miles) away. |
| Big chunks of debris, believed to be part of the mosque's perimeter wall, were blown high above the surrounding treetops. | Big chunks of debris, believed to be part of the mosque's perimeter wall, were blown high above the surrounding treetops. |
| The mosque's deputy leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, said he would rather die than surrender. | The mosque's deputy leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, said he would rather die than surrender. |
| "We are ready for our heads to be cut off but we will not bow to them," he said. | "We are ready for our heads to be cut off but we will not bow to them," he said. |
| Madrassa captured | Madrassa captured |
| Meanwhile Pakistani police have taken control of an Islamic seminary run by clerics from the Red Mosque. | Meanwhile Pakistani police have taken control of an Islamic seminary run by clerics from the Red Mosque. |
| "Police stormed into Jamia Faridia (school) and arrested dozens of students and shifted them to an unknown place", a senior security officer told AFP news agency. | "Police stormed into Jamia Faridia (school) and arrested dozens of students and shifted them to an unknown place", a senior security officer told AFP news agency. |
| Several hundred students are still said to be in the complex | Several hundred students are still said to be in the complex |
| Police say the school was a "powerhouse" for the mosque and several of its students were involved in the stand-off. | Police say the school was a "powerhouse" for the mosque and several of its students were involved in the stand-off. |
| It is believed several hundred religious students are still inside the Red Mosque complex, after more than 1,000 left under mounting pressure from security forces. | It is believed several hundred religious students are still inside the Red Mosque complex, after more than 1,000 left under mounting pressure from security forces. |
| Officials said about 60 of those remaining are hard-liners, who have been at the vanguard of campaigning for the imposition of strict Islamic law (Sharia) in Islamabad. | Officials said about 60 of those remaining are hard-liners, who have been at the vanguard of campaigning for the imposition of strict Islamic law (Sharia) in Islamabad. |
| They have led a morality campaign which included the abduction of police officers and people accused of running brothels, as well as raids on music and DVD shops. | They have led a morality campaign which included the abduction of police officers and people accused of running brothels, as well as raids on music and DVD shops. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the government is piling psychological pressure on those still inside with a mass demonstration of force demanding unconditional surrender. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the government is piling psychological pressure on those still inside with a mass demonstration of force demanding unconditional surrender. |
| 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. |