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Police probe attack at Red Mosque Police probe attack at Red Mosque
(about 5 hours later)
The Pakistani authorities have launched an inquiry into the suicide bombing outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad, in which at least 13 people died.The Pakistani authorities have launched an inquiry into the suicide bombing outside the Red Mosque in Islamabad, in which at least 13 people died.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said the investigation would be thorough, but said he believed earlier protests and unrest at the mosque were factors. An interior ministry spokesman said the investigation would be thorough, but he believed earlier Islamist protests and unrest at the mosque were factors.
Security has been tightened in Islamabad following Friday's blast.Security has been tightened in Islamabad following Friday's blast.
The mosque was the scene of a bloody siege that ended earlier in July with the deaths of more than 100 people. The mosque was the scene of a siege that ended earlier this month with the deaths of more than 100 people.
"The government is very much determined to crack down on extremists and flush them out," Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema told the AFP news agency. "The government is very much determined to crack down on extremists and flush them out," interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema told the AFP news agency.
He said that protests at the mosque had created conditions which made it easier for a bomber to attack the building.He said that protests at the mosque had created conditions which made it easier for a bomber to attack the building.
"If these people had not created such a situation it would not have happened," he said. "If these people had not created such a situation, it would not have happened," he said.
He added that the remains of the bomber were being tested for DNA in an effort to establish his identity.He added that the remains of the bomber were being tested for DNA in an effort to establish his identity.
Revolution callRevolution call
Friday's protest began when students demanded the return of the mosque's surviving pro-Taleban cleric, Abdul Aziz, who is in detention.Friday's protest began when 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 protesters emerged from the mosque chanting "[President Pervez] Musharraf is a dog!", and calling for an Islamic revolution.Security forces initially stood by as the protesters emerged from the mosque chanting "[President Pervez] Musharraf is a dog!", and calling for an Islamic revolution.
I was told everything would be peaceful Mohammad AshfaqRed Mosque's new imam In pictures: Bomb aftermathI was told everything would be peaceful Mohammad AshfaqRed Mosque's new imam In pictures: Bomb aftermath
But as angry demonstrators started hurling stones at police, officers in full riot gear were deployed and tear gas was fired. But as angry demonstrators started hurling stones at police, officers in riot gear were deployed and tear gas was fired.
The protesters daubed red paint over the mosque, which had been repainted in pale colours by the authorities after the end of the siege.The protesters daubed red paint over the mosque, which had been repainted in pale colours by the authorities after the end of the siege.
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.
Calm shatteredCalm shattered
Earlier protesters had prevented a government-appointed cleric from leading Friday prayers at what was supposed to be the peaceful re-opening of the mosque. Earlier, protesters had 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.
The explosion took place in a restaurant outside the mosque soon after the protests were subdued by police, said the BBC's Dan Isaacs, who was only a short distance away.The explosion took place in a restaurant outside the mosque soon after the protests were subdued by police, said the BBC's Dan Isaacs, who was only a short distance away.
It appeared to be targeted at the police cordon arranged round the mosque, where dozens of officers were lined up, he said.It appeared to be targeted at the police cordon arranged round the mosque, where dozens of officers were lined up, he said.
Such a high-profile attack in the heart of the Pakistani capital will be extremely worrying for Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, who is under increasing political pressure and facing rising violence by militants, our correspondent says. Such a high-profile attack in the heart of the Pakistani capital will be extremely worrying for President Musharraf, who is under increasing political pressure and facing rising violence by militants, our correspondent says.
Less than three weeks ago, troops stormed the mosque after its clerics and students waged an increasingly aggressive campaign to enforce strict Sharia law in Islamabad.Less than three weeks ago, 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.
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.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.
More than 100 people were killed in the siege including 11 soldiers and an as yet unknown number of extremists and their hostages. More than 100 people were killed in the siege, including 11 soldiers and an as yet unknown number of militants 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 jihadi network in the country in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US.
More than 180 people have been killed in militant attacks in the past few weeks.More than 180 people have been killed in militant attacks in the past few weeks.