Diplomats in Pak urged to restrict their movements

ISLAMABAD: Diplomats in Pakistan have been urged by the authorities to restrict their movements fearing attacks as a fall out of the stand-off between the radical clerics of Lal Masjid and security forces.

The government has asked diplomats to restrict their movements, and inform the police prior to their movements, the 'Daily Times' said.

Diplomats feared that Islamists could target western interests in Pakistan as a retaliation for the clashes between the militants holed-up inside the radical mosque and the security forces deployed around the Lal Masjid complex.

Foreign diplomats expressed concern over clashes between law enforcement agencies and Lal Masjid students, and hoped that the dispute would be settled soon.

They were apprehensive that the clashes could spill over into adjacent areas like the Embassy Road housing a number of foreign missions.

"Though there is no immediate threat to us, we cannot remain aloof from the shootings that have claimed a number of lives," a diplomat was quoted as saying by the daily.

Another diplomat said the operation was overdue for a long time as radical clerics were involved in creating unrest in the city.

Gunfire from the madrassa students and the resistance faced by the army shows that the students have been training for the day, he said.

At least 1,200 students of the radical Lal Masjid have surrendered before a fresh deadline set by the government ended even as hardline clerics and militants along with several other students remained holed up inside.

A series of loud blasts and bursts of gunfire were heard around the besieged masjid on Thursday triggering speculation that security forces were trying to storm the complex as the stand-off entered the third day.