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Violence breaks out at Red Mosque 'Several die' in Red Mosque blast
(20 minutes later)
Police at Pakistan's Red Mosque in Islamabad have fired tear gas at stone-throwing students who have occupied the building. An explosion has rocked Pakistan's Red Mosque after violent clashes between police and Islamist students, killing several people, officials say.
Armoured riot vehicles confronted the protesters as they gathered in and around the mosque in the capital. There were unconfirmed reports that the blast was a bomb aimed at police, and that at least one officer was killed.
Correspondents say that demonstrators, some carrying wooden staves, hurled rocks at police. Earlier police fired tear gas at stone-throwing students who had occupied the building in Islamabad.
The students want the return of the mosque's surviving pro-Taleban cleric, Abdul Aziz, who is in detention. The mosque was the scene of a bloody siege that ended earlier in July with the deaths of more than 100 people.
The mosque has been repainted and repaired following the bloody siege that ended on 11 July with the deaths of more than 100 people. A protest grew on Friday as students demanded the return of the mosque's surviving pro-Taleban cleric, Abdul Aziz, who is in detention.
Security forces initially stood by as the protest began, but later dozens of police officers in full riot gear were deployed.Security forces initially stood by as the protest began, but later dozens of police officers in full riot gear were deployed.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says the latest developments are a huge embarrassment for the government. Cleric rejected
Our correspondent says that ministers have been reluctant to talk about it, although the interior ministry spokesman, Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema, told the Geo TV channel that the incident was "unfortunate". The protesters defaced the mosque, which had been repainted in pale colours by the authorities after the end of the siege.
The brigadier said that action would be taken against all those found to have disrupted law and order.
Our correspondent says that latest reports suggest that a large number of protesters are still inside the mosque, while an equally large number are outside, playing "hide and seek" with the police.
The protesters have defaced the mosque, which had been repainted in pale colours by the authorities.
They wrote "Red Mosque" in large Urdu script on the dome of the building. They also raised a black flag with two crossed swords - meant to symbolise jihad, or holy war.They wrote "Red Mosque" in large Urdu script on the dome of the building. They also raised a black flag with two crossed swords - meant to symbolise jihad, or holy war.
Earlier protesters prevented a government-appointed cleric from leading Friday prayers at what was supposed to be the peaceful re-opening of the mosque.Earlier protesters prevented a government-appointed cleric from leading Friday prayers at what was supposed to be the peaceful re-opening of the mosque.
"I was told everything would be peaceful. I was never interested in taking up this job and after today I will never do it," Mohammad Ashfaq told AFP news agency as he left the mosque with a police escort."I was told everything would be peaceful. I was never interested in taking up this job and after today I will never do it," Mohammad Ashfaq told AFP news agency as he left the mosque with a police escort.
Renovated buildingRenovated building
Troops stormed the mosque on 10 July after its clerics and students waged an increasingly aggressive campaign to enforce strict Sharia law in Islamabad. Troops stormed the mosque after its clerics and students waged an increasingly aggressive campaign to enforce strict Sharia law in Islamabad.
The mosque had become a centre of radical Islamic learning and housed several thousand male and female students in adjacent seminaries.The mosque had become a centre of radical Islamic learning and housed several thousand male and female students in adjacent seminaries.
Protesters daubed the mosque with graffitiProtesters daubed the mosque with graffiti
The chief of Dyala prison in Rawalpindi told Pakistan's Supreme Court that 567 of the 620 students detained during the siege and 36-hour battle had been freed. Of those still being held, three of them are women. The chief of Dyala prison in Rawalpindi told Pakistan's Supreme Court that 567 of the 620 students detained during the siege and 36-hour battle had been freed. Of those still being held, three are women.
A legal aid committee says it has received 58 complaints from relatives about men who are said to be missing following the siege.A legal aid committee says it has received 58 complaints from relatives about men who are said to be missing following the siege.
The 102 people killed in the siege included 11 soldiers and an as yet unknown number of extremists and their hostages. The people killed in the siege included 11 soldiers and an as yet unknown number of extremists and their hostages.
The attack on the mosque was the fiercest battle fought by security forces in mainland Pakistan since President Musharraf vowed to dismantle the militant jihadi network in the country in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US.The attack on the mosque was the fiercest battle fought by security forces in mainland Pakistan since President Musharraf vowed to dismantle the militant jihadi network in the country in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US.