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| Wanted men 'control Red Mosque' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's religious affairs minister has said wanted Islamic militants are in control of a besieged mosque in the capital, Islamabad. | Pakistan's religious affairs minister has said wanted Islamic militants are in control of a besieged mosque in the capital, Islamabad. |
| Ejaz-ul-Haq said the militants were "hardened terrorists" holding women and children hostage inside the Red Mosque. | |
| The Pakistani army has kept a tight grip on the mosque, also known as Lal Masjid, since fighting began last week. | |
| The mosque's leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, said he and his followers would commit suicide rather than surrender. | The mosque's leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, said he and his followers would commit suicide rather than surrender. |
| An army commander was shot dead by students inside the mosque on Sunday. | An army commander was shot dead by students inside the mosque on Sunday. |
| At least 21 people have been killed since the stand-off began last Tuesday. | |
| Abdul Rashid Ghazi said as many as 1,800 followers remained in the mosque, although this cannot be verified. | Abdul Rashid Ghazi said as many as 1,800 followers remained in the mosque, although this cannot be verified. |
| 'Al-Qaeda links' | 'Al-Qaeda links' |
| Mr ul-Haq told the BBC that between two and five of the militants were wanted in connection with "high-profile cases". | Mr ul-Haq told the BBC that between two and five of the militants were wanted in connection with "high-profile cases". |
| In pictures: Siege scenes Red Mosque Profile: Abdul Rashid Ghazi He said the militants had complete control inside the mosque, and that Abdul Rashid Ghazi was being used as a figurehead. | In pictures: Siege scenes Red Mosque Profile: Abdul Rashid Ghazi He said the militants had complete control inside the mosque, and that Abdul Rashid Ghazi was being used as a figurehead. |
| Mr ul-Haq said the government became aware of the militants' presence after a man killed on the first day of the siege was identified as Maqsood Ahmed, a member of Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda. | Mr ul-Haq said the government became aware of the militants' presence after a man killed on the first day of the siege was identified as Maqsood Ahmed, a member of Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda. |
| Ahmed was wanted in connection with an assassination attempt against Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the northern Pakistani town of Attock in 2004. | Ahmed was wanted in connection with an assassination attempt against Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the northern Pakistani town of Attock in 2004. |
| Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups. He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge. | Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups. He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge. |
| Earlier, Mr ul-Haq said up to 250 militants - including foreign radicals - were leading the fighting. | Earlier, Mr ul-Haq said up to 250 militants - including foreign radicals - were leading the fighting. |
| 'Surrender or die' | 'Surrender or die' |
| Lt Col Haroon Islam, who died on Sunday, was in charge of an operation to blow holes in the mosque compound walls to enable civilians to escape. | Lt Col Haroon Islam, who died on Sunday, was in charge of an operation to blow holes in the mosque compound walls to enable civilians to escape. |
| Water and power to the mosque have been cut off and food is said to be getting scarce. | Water and power to the mosque have been cut off and food is said to be getting scarce. |
| Our correspondent says he has heard intermittent gunfire in the area and the boom of heavy weapons. | Our correspondent says he has heard intermittent gunfire in the area and the boom of heavy weapons. |
| Col Islam was shot dead by students inside the mosque | Col Islam was shot dead by students inside the mosque |
| An increased military presence on the streets, combined with the refusal to let a delegation of Islamic figures through to the mosque, suggests that the government is now closing the door to negotiation, our correspondent adds. | An increased military presence on the streets, combined with the refusal to let a delegation of Islamic figures through to the mosque, suggests that the government is now closing the door to negotiation, our correspondent adds. |
| On Saturday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told the students they had no option but to surrender. | On Saturday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told the students they had no option but to surrender. |
| "We have been patient. I want to say to the ones who have been left inside: they should come out and surrender, and if they don't, I am saying this here and now: they will be killed," he said. | "We have been patient. I want to say to the ones who have been left inside: they should come out and surrender, and if they don't, I am saying this here and now: they will be killed," he said. |
| More than 1,000 supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces, although only about 20 have left since Friday. | More than 1,000 supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces, although only about 20 have left since Friday. |