Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD3269
2007-07-27 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
RED MOSQUE FLARES UP AGAIN, SUICIDE BLAST AT
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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003269
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE FLARES UP AGAIN, SUICIDE BLAST AT
NEARBY MARKET
REF: ISLAMABAD 3201
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003269
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE FLARES UP AGAIN, SUICIDE BLAST AT
NEARBY MARKET
REF: ISLAMABAD 3201
1. (U) Security forcces have re-taken the Red Mosque after
July 27 demonstrations. Hundreds of unarmed religious
students and local attendees of Friday prayers protested the
re-opening of the Red Mosque. Refusing to pray behind the
government-appointed prayer leader Maulana Ashfaq, protesters
removed him from the mosque. Protestors also shouted
anti-Musharraf slogans, threw rocks, started re-painting the
mosque red (the government had begun to paint over the red),
and demanded that the government free Abdul Aziz, the
mosque's former leader, and allow him to lead prayers.
Protestors expelled journalists and others, including
religious party political leader Liaqat Baloch from the
mosque. Security forces outside the mosque launched tear gas
shells at the agitators. Protestors outside the mosque
dispersed after the tear gas was fired; however, many
remained inside the mosque.
2. (U) Soon after security forces surrounded the Red Mosque,
an explosion occurred at the nearby Aapbara Market. According
to police contacts, a suicide bomber detonated himself near a
police vehicle. The same police source reported that so far
eighteen have died, including at least four police officers,
and twenty-two people were wounded. On hearing the blast,
most of the remaining protesters at the Red Mosque headed
toward the Aapbara Market blast site.
3. (U) In the Balochistan capital of Quetta, unidentified
gunmen fired at the vehicle of Balochistan government
spokesman Raziq Bugti, killing him instantly. ConGen Karachi
is reporting septel.
4. (SBU) The Aapbara market area has been off-limits to
official Americans for years. There are no reports of
American casualties.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE FLARES UP AGAIN, SUICIDE BLAST AT
NEARBY MARKET
REF: ISLAMABAD 3201
1. (U) Security forcces have re-taken the Red Mosque after
July 27 demonstrations. Hundreds of unarmed religious
students and local attendees of Friday prayers protested the
re-opening of the Red Mosque. Refusing to pray behind the
government-appointed prayer leader Maulana Ashfaq, protesters
removed him from the mosque. Protestors also shouted
anti-Musharraf slogans, threw rocks, started re-painting the
mosque red (the government had begun to paint over the red),
and demanded that the government free Abdul Aziz, the
mosque's former leader, and allow him to lead prayers.
Protestors expelled journalists and others, including
religious party political leader Liaqat Baloch from the
mosque. Security forces outside the mosque launched tear gas
shells at the agitators. Protestors outside the mosque
dispersed after the tear gas was fired; however, many
remained inside the mosque.
2. (U) Soon after security forces surrounded the Red Mosque,
an explosion occurred at the nearby Aapbara Market. According
to police contacts, a suicide bomber detonated himself near a
police vehicle. The same police source reported that so far
eighteen have died, including at least four police officers,
and twenty-two people were wounded. On hearing the blast,
most of the remaining protesters at the Red Mosque headed
toward the Aapbara Market blast site.
3. (U) In the Balochistan capital of Quetta, unidentified
gunmen fired at the vehicle of Balochistan government
spokesman Raziq Bugti, killing him instantly. ConGen Karachi
is reporting septel.
4. (SBU) The Aapbara market area has been off-limits to
official Americans for years. There are no reports of
American casualties.
PATTERSON