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Ex-PM Bhutto under house arrest Ex-PM Bhutto under house arrest
(about 4 hours later)
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been served a 30-day detention notice. Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been placed under house arrest and her home surrounded by security forces.
The move came as she tried to leave her Islamabad home, which has been blocked off by police to stop her joining a planned rally in nearby Rawalpindi. The move came as she tried to leave her Islamabad residence to join a planned rally in nearby Rawalpindi.
Police in the city clashed with Ms Bhutto's supporters defying a ban on rallies imposed under emergency rule. The United States has criticised the move saying that she must be "permitted freedom of movement."
Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing President Pervez Musharraf to stand down as army chief.Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing President Pervez Musharraf to stand down as army chief.
Officers in riot gear blocked off the road to the former prime minister's house with barbed wire on Friday, with no-one being allowed in or out. Police in Rawalpindi clashed with members of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) who were trying to defy a ban on rallies imposed under emergency rule.
The 30-day detention order was served on Ms Bhutto after she tried to cross the police cordon. A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday.
As events unfolded, she told the BBC that her supporters would carry on her campaign even if she were detained. We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff Benazir Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7087171.stm">Eyewitnesses to clampdown class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7085851.stm">Who's winning power game class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7086901.stm">In pictures: Pakistan crisis
Benazir Bhutto wants elections to be held on schedule Earlier reports said the order would apply for 30 days.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says that raises the possibility of mass protests as Gen Musharraf tries to consolidate the state of emergency he declared last Saturday. Speaking outside the house, in front of police barricades, she repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January.
Ms Bhutto had been intending to address a huge rally in Rawalpindi, but thousands of police were deployed to block the main roads. "We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary," she said.
Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says hundreds of its supporters were detained overnight. "We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November."
But PPP activists have been trying to reach the venue of the planned rally through alleyways, throwing stones and clashing with police. The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Ms Bhutto's defiance raises the possibility of mass protests.
The authorities banned the rally, saying attackers were trying to target it. She had been intending to address a huge rally in Rawalpindi, but thousands of police were deployed to block the main roads.
Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile. White House concerns
The United States, which has been the principal backer of President Musharraf in his fight against pro-Taleban militants, was quick to criticise the restrictions on Ms Bhutto.
"Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan's authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms."
Security threatSecurity threat
Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party says thousands of its supporters have been detained in the past two days.
A small number of PPP activists tried to evade security by going to a planned rally in Rawalpindi through alleyways and side streets.
HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments
But after a while a running battle started, with protesters throwing stones and police using teargas.
The authorities had banned the event, saying attackers were trying to target it.
Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile.
Pakistani deputy information minister Tariq Azim told the BBC that the opposition leader was being detained "for her own security".Pakistani deputy information minister Tariq Azim told the BBC that the opposition leader was being detained "for her own security".
HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3776&edition=1">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7084599.stm">On the run with Imran Khan class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7085851.stm">Who's winning power game Another minister said the three-day detention order might be lifted early.
"She is being asked not to take out this rally or procession in view of the security threats that we have and keeping in mind what happened (on) 18 October," Mr Azim said. Meanwhile in the city of Peshawar, police say a suicide bomber targeted the residence of the minister for political affairs, Amir Muqam.
Meanwhile in the city of Peshawar, police say a suicide bomber targeted the residence of the minister for political affairs, Amir Muquam.
They say two security personnel were killed, along with the attacker, but the minister is safe.They say two security personnel were killed, along with the attacker, but the minister is safe.
On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged to hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than scheduled.
He also renewed a promise to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term.
However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague".
"This is yet another vague announcement. We want him to hang up his uniform by 15 November," she said.
'Indispensable ally''Indispensable ally'
On Thursday Gen Musharraf pledged to hold parliamentary elections by 15 February - a month later than they were due.
He also renewed a promise to quit as head of the army, if and when the Supreme Court validated his recent election as president for another term.
However, Ms Bhutto dismissed his words as "vague" and "generalised".
Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold elections after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush.Gen Musharraf announced his decision to hold elections after coming under pressure from US President George W Bush.
The general imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary.The general imposed a state of emergency on Saturday, blaming militant violence and an unruly judiciary.
On Wednesday, Mr Bush telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army.On Wednesday, Mr Bush telephoned the Pakistani leader to urge him to call off the state of emergency and stand down as head of the army.
But he also noted that Gen Musharraf had been an "indispensable ally".But he also noted that Gen Musharraf had been an "indispensable ally".
A media blackout is again in force a day after it was eased - with international channels like the BBC and CNN temporarily allowed back on air on Thursday. A media blackout is still in force. International channels like the BBC and CNN were allowed back on air on Thursday but have since been blocked again.