|
Violent clashes rock Pakistan
12/05/2007 22:33 - (SA)
Karachi, Pakistan - The political crisis surrounding President General Pervez Musharraf deepened dramatically on Saturday, when gunbattles and clashes between supporters and opponents of the military-led government left at least 28 people dead in Pakistan's biggest city.
The killings in Karachi were the first since Musharraf triggered growing protests by suspending the country's most senior judge, and further clouded the future of a key ally of the United States.
The involvement of a pro-government party in the violence prompted accusations that the unrest had authorities' tacit approval - despite Musharraf's appeals for calm and insistence that he will not declare emergency rule.
"If you really feel sorry over what has happened in Karachi, then stop these protests," Musharraf said during a speech late on Saturday to a huge rally of his supporters in the capital.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry had planned to address what was billed as the largest rally yet of lawyers and opposition supporters calling for his reinstatement and for Musharraf to stand down.
However, he flew back to Islamabad in the evening having never made it out of Karachi's international airport after activists for rival political groups fought street battles across the sprawling port city.
|
News
