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Deadline further extended for hard-line mosque personnel to surrender |
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08:06, July 05, 2007 |
Deadline for hard-line religious personnel of Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, in Pakistani capital city to surrender has been further extended by authorities to 7 p.m. (1400 GMT), the private DAWN NEWS TV channel reported.
Some 20 minutes ago, there was a fresh firing between law enforcers and religious personnel of the mosque, with gun shooting heard in the neighborhood.
Five helicopters were currently hovering in Islamabad's G-6 area, where the mosque lies, and residents in the neighborhood were seen coming out, DAWN NEWS reported.
TV screen footage quoting President Pervez Musharraf said there was no compromise on writ of government and time for negotiation was over.
The private DAWN NEWS TV channel quoting unnamed sources said the Army and Rangers have been given final order to go ahead.
The Pakistani government has called for surrender of religious personnel in the mosque, and handover of personnel involved in snatching arms and opening fire on security personnel at noon Tuesday.
Nearly 700 religious students have surrendered to the authorities and they were allowed to go home freely with government finance of about 5,000 rupees (about 83.3 U.S. dollars)for each person.
Addressing a news briefing, Pakistan's Information Minister Muhammad Ali Wednesday afternoon said the operation will be conducted in stages to minimize the casualties.
The firing exchange between the hard-line religious students and law enforcers on Tuesday afternoon left at least 10 people killed and some 94 injured, according to officials.
Source: Xinhua
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