July 27, 2007
Violence Resurfaces At Pakistan's Red Mosque
Just two weeks after more than 100 people died in clashes between the Pakistani government and Islamist militants at the Red Mosque in Islamabad, fresh violence has erupted at the re-opening of the site today. The London Times reports that hundreds of pro-Taliban students drove a government-appointed cleric from the mosque and resumed their protests of President Pervez Musharraf.
At least 11 people, mostly police, were killed when a suicide bomb went off at a restaurant near the clashes.
Police had fired tear gas at the violent protesters, who earlier had daubed red paint on the walls of the mosque to disrupt the new light yellow color that authorities used to repaint the building. The students angrily denounced Musharraf and called for the release of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the radical cleric who was arrested during the previous siege when he tried to escape in disguise.
AP has background on the conflict, and NPR's "Morning Edition" has an interview with a student protester who explains why she believes she made a mistake to leave the mosque the first time.
