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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| More tension in mosque stand-off | More tension in mosque stand-off |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Radical Islamic students in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, kidnapped three more policemen on Monday before releasing them a short while later. | Radical Islamic students in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, kidnapped three more policemen on Monday before releasing them a short while later. |
| The incident was the latest high-profile incident confrontation between the police and the students. | The incident was the latest high-profile incident confrontation between the police and the students. |
| Students linked to the city's Red Mosque kidnapped four policemen on Friday, but two were later released. | Students linked to the city's Red Mosque kidnapped four policemen on Friday, but two were later released. |
| The kidnappings come in the face of a possible operation against the mosque and its associated seminaries. | The kidnappings come in the face of a possible operation against the mosque and its associated seminaries. |
| 'Illegal detention' | 'Illegal detention' |
| The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that the policemen kidnapped in the latest incident on Monday afternoon were part of a mobile patrol that was stormed by students from the Jamia Faridia seminary that is attached to the Red Mosque. | |
| Our correspondent says that the two sets of kidnappings in the heart of the Pakistani capital are another serious challenge to President Musharraf's authority. | Our correspondent says that the two sets of kidnappings in the heart of the Pakistani capital are another serious challenge to President Musharraf's authority. |
| Eye witnesses say that while the officer in charge managed to escape, two junior officers and a constable were dragged off to the confines of the madrassa, which is located in an up-market part of the city. | Eye witnesses say that while the officer in charge managed to escape, two junior officers and a constable were dragged off to the confines of the madrassa, which is located in an up-market part of the city. |
| Maulana Ghazi says they will not back down | Maulana Ghazi says they will not back down |
| The madrassa administration is currently negotiating with the authorities over what they say is the "illegal detention" of their students. | The madrassa administration is currently negotiating with the authorities over what they say is the "illegal detention" of their students. |
| On Sunday, about 40 Islamic students were detained amid continuing tension over the two policemen still being held hostage at the mosque. | On Sunday, about 40 Islamic students were detained amid continuing tension over the two policemen still being held hostage at the mosque. |
| Officials said the students are being held to stop them from going to the Red Mosque to support those who seized the policemen on Friday. | Officials said the students are being held to stop them from going to the Red Mosque to support those who seized the policemen on Friday. |
| Two of a group of kidnapped policemen were released on Saturday. | Two of a group of kidnapped policemen were released on Saturday. |
| 'Intercepted' | 'Intercepted' |
| Clerics said the remaining ones would be released in exchange for several students being held for some months. | Clerics said the remaining ones would be released in exchange for several students being held for some months. |
| The Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) mosque and two seminaries, one for men and one for women, attached to it have campaigned for strict Islamic law to be enforced in Pakistan. | The Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) mosque and two seminaries, one for men and one for women, attached to it have campaigned for strict Islamic law to be enforced in Pakistan. |
| The mosque is at the centre of the standoff | The mosque is at the centre of the standoff |
| Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying that some people were "intercepted" to stop them from going to the Red Mosque. | Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying that some people were "intercepted" to stop them from going to the Red Mosque. |
| "The government is not planning any operations against the seminary or the mosque," Mr Cheema told Reuters. | "The government is not planning any operations against the seminary or the mosque," Mr Cheema told Reuters. |
| "We will not let things get out of control. They are not enemies, but our own people, and we hope this will be settled through dialogue," he said. | "We will not let things get out of control. They are not enemies, but our own people, and we hope this will be settled through dialogue," he said. |
| Mr Cheema said the detained students were expected to be freed later, but did not give any details. | Mr Cheema said the detained students were expected to be freed later, but did not give any details. |
| A defiant Maulana Abdul Aziz, chief cleric of the mosque, threatened "jihad" or holy war if the authorities raided the mosque. | A defiant Maulana Abdul Aziz, chief cleric of the mosque, threatened "jihad" or holy war if the authorities raided the mosque. |
| Reuters reported Maulana Aziz as saying, "We are ready to fight, we are ready to die, but we will not back down." | Reuters reported Maulana Aziz as saying, "We are ready to fight, we are ready to die, but we will not back down." |
| On Saturday, dozens of students from the Lal Masjid seminary seized the four policemen and took them inside, demanding the release of 11 students detained by intelligence agents. | On Saturday, dozens of students from the Lal Masjid seminary seized the four policemen and took them inside, demanding the release of 11 students detained by intelligence agents. |