Pakistan imposes curfew around mosque
Posted: 04 July 2007 0543 hrs

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ISLAMABAD : Pakistan's government on Wednesday clamped a curfew on the area around a hardline mosque in Islamabad after deadly clashes, warning that armed violators would be shot on sight.

Deputy Interior Minister Zafar Warriach also urged the leaders of the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, to surrender following the battles between Islamist students and security forces on Tuesday that left 12 people dead.

"The curfew has been imposed.... Those who surrender will not be harmed. If anybody comes out with arms, he will face bullets," Warriach told a news conference.

He said announcements would be made over loudspeakers telling people not to violate the curfew.

Troops moved into the area and were posted on street corners on blocks up to 1.5 kilometres from the mosque. The electricity to the area immediately around the complex had been cut.

Students from the mosque exchanged gunfire with police and paramilitary troops throughout the day Tuesday in the climax to a six-month standoff over their Taliban-style anti-vice campaign.

The dead included a soldier, a journalist, at least four students from the Red Mosque and several passers-by.

"The decision has been taken to launch an operation. It does not mean we will storm the mosque (but) we will not allow violation of the curfew. These unlawful activities will not be allowed any more," Warriach said.

"This is an important decision, it may become a historic decision. The government has decided to take action against people who are harming the image of the country and Islam," he added.

Clerics at the mosque said late Tuesday that they would unleash suicide bombers to avenge the "blood of the martyrs - echoing earlier warnings about having thousands of suicide attackers at their disposal. - AFP/de