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Pakistan to negotiate over mosque Pakistan to negotiate over mosque
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistan's president has decided to put together a team of hostage negotiators to try to end a continuing siege at a radical Islamabad mosque, reports say. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has sent a team of hostage negotiators to try to end a continuing siege at a radical Islamabad mosque.
General Pervez Musharraf met officials to discuss options to end the stand-off at the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque. The team is communicating via loudspeakers with the cleric leading a group of militants holed up inside the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque).
Ministers say that wanted militants inside the mosque are holding women and children hostage. Ministers say the militants are holding women and children hostage.
Elsewhere, three Chinese workers were killed in Peshawar in an attack said to be linked to the unrest in Islamabad.Elsewhere, three Chinese workers were killed in Peshawar in an attack said to be linked to the unrest in Islamabad.
We're doing our best to avoid bloodshed, especially of innocent women and children Hanif Jalandri, Madrassa official Tough choices for Musharraf Send us your commentsWe're doing our best to avoid bloodshed, especially of innocent women and children Hanif Jalandri, Madrassa official Tough choices for Musharraf Send us your comments
There is speculation that Islamic militants may be targeting Chinese people in Pakistan.There is speculation that Islamic militants may be targeting Chinese people in Pakistan.
The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the Red Mosque siege began after students from the mosque abducted seven Chinese workers they accused of running a brothel.The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the Red Mosque siege began after students from the mosque abducted seven Chinese workers they accused of running a brothel.
China swiftly condemned the Peshawar killings and told Pakistan to launch an investigation and take proper steps to protect Chinese in the country, the official Xinhua news agency reported.China swiftly condemned the Peshawar killings and told Pakistan to launch an investigation and take proper steps to protect Chinese in the country, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The team of government negotiators is to be headed by former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who is head of the governing PML(Q) party.
Members of the opposition Islamic alliance, the MMA, and clerics in the capital marched to the Red Mosque on Monday.
They want a ceasefire and humanitarian access to the compound, as well as Supreme Court authorisation for similar operations in the future.
The latest developments came as Pakistan's Supreme Court announced it was looking into legal issues surrounding the operation to flush out those inside the mosque.The latest developments came as Pakistan's Supreme Court announced it was looking into legal issues surrounding the operation to flush out those inside the mosque.
Members of the opposition Islamic alliance, the MMA, want a ceasefire and humanitarian access to the compound, as well as Supreme Court authorisation for similar operations in the future.
DebateDebate
Gunfire was reported around the mosque overnight and on Monday morning, but clashes were less intense than in previous days, witnesses said.Gunfire was reported around the mosque overnight and on Monday morning, but clashes were less intense than in previous days, witnesses said.
Gen Musharraf held a high-level security meeting on Monday, at which it was decided to establish a negotiation team to secure the release of women and children still inside.Gen Musharraf held a high-level security meeting on Monday, at which it was decided to establish a negotiation team to secure the release of women and children still inside.
The team of government negotiators is led by former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who is head of the governing PML(Q) party.
Reports said the negotiators would work with Islamic leaders, who have counselled against sending in troops while there remains a chance of brokering a deal.Reports said the negotiators would work with Islamic leaders, who have counselled against sending in troops while there remains a chance of brokering a deal.
In pictures: Siege scenes Profile: Red Mosque Profile: Abdul Rashid GhaziIn pictures: Siege scenes Profile: Red Mosque Profile: Abdul Rashid Ghazi
"We're doing our best to avoid bloodshed, especially of innocent women and children," said Hanif Jalandri, a senior figure in the organisation that oversees Pakistan's religious schools, or madrassas."We're doing our best to avoid bloodshed, especially of innocent women and children," said Hanif Jalandri, a senior figure in the organisation that oversees Pakistan's religious schools, or madrassas.
"We are trying hard to reach a compromise on ending the crisis in a peaceful manner.""We are trying hard to reach a compromise on ending the crisis in a peaceful manner."
But the government has adopted an increasingly tough stance against those within the mosque.But the government has adopted an increasingly tough stance against those within the mosque.
The country's religious affairs minister then described those in charge as "hardened terrorists", although his claims could not be verified. Religious affairs minister Ejaz-ul-Haq, who is one of the negotiators, has described those in charge as "hardened terrorists", although his claims could not be verified.
At least 21 people have died since fighting erupted when the army surrounded the mosque last week, including an army commander shot dead inside the mosque on Sunday. At least 21 people have died since fighting erupted when the army surrounded the mosque last Tuesday, including an army commander shot dead inside the mosque on Sunday.
'No surrender''No surrender'
Ejaz-ul-Haq, the religious affairs minister, said women and children have been locked up on two floors of the Jamia Hafsa religious school, which is attached to the mosque. Mr ul-Haq said women and children had been locked up on two floors of the Jamia Hafsa religious school, which is attached to the mosque.
As many as five "hardcore terrorists" were inside the mosque, he added, saying that one person killed on the first day of the siege belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda.As many as five "hardcore terrorists" were inside the mosque, he added, saying that one person killed on the first day of the siege belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda.
Mosque leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups.Mosque leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups.
He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge.He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge.
But he insists that he and his followers would commit suicide rather than surrender.But he insists that he and his followers would commit suicide rather than surrender.
Intelligence reports indicating that dozens of people inside the compound may be prepared to blow themselves up are complicating any plans to attack, says the BBC's Aamer Ahmed Khan.Intelligence reports indicating that dozens of people inside the compound may be prepared to blow themselves up are complicating any plans to attack, says the BBC's Aamer Ahmed Khan.
Abdul Rashid Ghazi has said as many as 1,800 followers remained in the mosque, although this cannot be verified.Abdul Rashid Ghazi has said as many as 1,800 followers remained in the mosque, although this cannot be verified.
Earlier, Mr ul-Haq said up to 250 militants - including foreign radicals - were leading the fighting.Earlier, Mr ul-Haq said up to 250 militants - including foreign radicals - were leading the fighting.
More than 1,000 supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces, although only about 20 have left since Friday.More than 1,000 supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces, although only about 20 have left since Friday.