Talks to end Pakistan mosque standoff fail: govt
Posted: 10 July 2007 0737 hrs

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ISLAMABAD - Talks between the Pakistani government and a cleric holed up with armed men at a besieged Islamabad mosque failed early Tuesday after he refused to release women and children allegedly held hostage, an official said.

Top government negotiator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain announced the failure after 11 hours of talks, which was followed immediately by heavy firing and two massive blasts.

"After 11 hours of negotiations we are deeply disappointed that the talks did not succeed," he told a news conference near the Red Mosque.