Snipers posted near Dutch siege house

Neighbours of a house in The Hague where a police siege is on-going have said snipers were posted on nearby rooftops and Dutch special forces were also at the scene.

The siege began at 1.45am Irish time.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende interrupted a parliamentary debate on the European Union to discuss the crisis.

“Extremism is reaching the roots of our democracy,” he said. “We cannot let ourselves be blinded by people who seek to drag us into a spiral of violence. It is the joint task of Muslims and non-Muslims to warn young people against radicalisation. Together we need to work toward a peaceful society.”

Dutch media reported friction in the governing right-wing coalition and said the Interior Minister Johan Remkes was under pressure to resign due to a conflict with the Justice Minister over how to respond to increasing Islamic radicalism.

The opposition Green Party asked Queen Beatrix Green to step in to help prevent ”further escalation”.

It said: “We will ask the government to request that the Queen address the nation.”

Three policemen were injured by a hand grenade thrown when a raid was launched on the house, officials said.

Air space over the capital was closed to small planes during the operation.