7 killed in suicide attack: Lal Masjid witnesses

Islamabad, July 27: At least seven people, three of them policemen, were killed and 15 injured in yet another suicide attack here shortly after hundreds of people, mostly youths, laid seige to the Lal Masjid and prevented all attempts by the authorities to organise 'Friday Prayers'.

The blast took place at a restaurant in famous Apara Market, which is located just half a km away from the pro-Taliban Lal Masjid.

Some eyewitnesses said the blast took place in a restaurant.

Uniforms and caps of policemen were scattered all around, one of them said. The eyewitnesses said it was a very big blast.

The suicide attack came shortly after police fired teargas to disperse hundreds of people who laid siege to the Lal Masjid and stalled the government's move to organise 'Friday Prayers' in the mosque which opened for the first time after the Army action on July 10 to flush out militants holed up inside.

Police officials said at least 500-700 people, mostly youths, surrounded the mosque premises, protesting against the July 10 'Operation Silence'.

At least two people were injured in the firing and five arrested.

'' The standoff between the radicals and the riot police at the mosque is still on'', DSP Islamabad Jamil Hashmi said.

Meanwhile, Islamabad resident Sher Bahadur excavated the bones of at least two people from the mosque and brought them outside.

At least 2000 people surrounded the mosque premises today and demanded that ousted Head Cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi be restored to his position.

Many youngsters were seen trying to change the colour of the mosque from white to red and shouting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.

UNI