The siege of a radical mosque in Pakistan’s capital entered its third day today after troops rocked the complex with gunfire and explosions and Islamic militants holed up inside rejected government calls to surrender.

Several explosions were heard near a radical mosque besieged by security forces in the Pakistani capital Islamabad this morning.

The chief cleric of a radical mosque in Islamabad was arrested and more than 1,000 of his followers surrendered today as troops backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters tightened their siege of the complex, officials said.

The chief cleric of the radical mosque besieged by security forces in the Pakistani capital Islamabad today was caught trying to slip away wearing a woman’s burqa, a senior official said.

Leaders of a besieged radical mosque in Pakistan remained defiant today as a deadline calling for their immediate surrender passed, a day after clashes there killed at least nine people.

A Pakistan government minister warned armed militants holed up in a radical mosque in Islamabad to surrender or face punishment by security forces.

Security forces clashed with Islamic students outside a radical mosque in the Pakistani capital Islamabad today, triggering gunfire that killed nine people, including four of the militant students, a senior official said.

Security forces clashed with militants outside a radical mosque in the Pakistani capital today, triggering gunfire that killed two police officers and one soldier.

GUNFIRE and explosions rocked a besieged radical mosque in Pakistan’s capital last night, as Islamic militants holed up in the complex ignored a call from their captured leader to surrender.