Violence breaks out at Red Mosque

BBC

Police at Pakistan's Red Mosque in Islamabad have fired tear gas at stone-throwing students who have occupied the building.

Armoured riot vehicles confronted the protesters as they gathered in and around the mosque in the capital.

Correspondents say that demonstrators, some carrying wooden staves, hurled rocks at police.

The students want the return of the mosque's surviving pro-Taleban cleric, Abdul Aziz, who is in detention.

The mosque has been repainted and repaired following the bloody siege that ended on 11 July with the deaths of more than 100 people.

Security forces initially stood by as the protest began, but later dozens of police officers in full riot gear were deployed.

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says the latest developments are a huge embarrassment for the government.

Our correspondent says that ministers have been reluctant to talk about it, although the interior ministry spokesman, Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema, told the Geo TV channel that the incident was "unfortunate"...........