i am waking up this thread from its deep slumber because this is news. i haven't heard much about the lal masjid situation for awhile.
[the new york times also has an article on the subject, but i'm not sure if you can get it if you are not a subscriber. the link for that is:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/w...cc532b639&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Troops seal off Pakistani mosque after 11 killed
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/Ne...093220Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-283088-4.xml
just the first few paragraphs.
By Augustine Anthony
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani troops sealed off the area around a mosque in the capital and imposed a 24-hour curfew on Wednesday after 11 people were killed in clashes between security forces and militant Islamic students.
Violence erupted on Tuesday after a months-long stand-off between a Taliban-style movement headquartered at Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, less than a couple of kilometres from parliament and a protected enclave for foreign embassies.
As the gunfire died down overnight, soldiers moved 12 armoured personnel carriers, mounted with machineguns, into the area shortly before dawn.
Power was cut off in the neighbourhood, barbed wire was placed on surrounding streets, and journalists were expelled from the area.
Deputy Interior Minister Zafar Warraich told a news conference that no action would be taken against students who lay down their weapons and surrender, but anyone who tried to fight would be shot.
"A bullet will be responded with by a bullet," he said.
The Interior Ministry said nine people had been killed, but Islamabad hospital officials later said the toll was 11. About 150 people were taken to hospital, 30 with bullet wounds, others suffering from the effects of tear gas.