Pakistani security forces blew holes in the outer walls of a mosque where hundreds of militant Muslim students have been holed up in a stand-off with authorities for three days.
Smoke was rising from the compound housing the Red Mosque and a girls' madrasa in Islamabad following several explosions. A gun battle was also heard.
Earlier today, the captured leader of the besieged Lal Masjid mosque in Pakistani has called on his followers to give themselves up.
In a television interview, Abdul Aziz confirmed that around 250 men armed with assault rifles, and up to 800 women, remained inside the building known as the Red Mosque in Islamabad.
Mr Aziz claimed in the apparently staged interview that he had come to the conclusion that his supporters should surrender, saying that the Pakistani government's 'massive resources' had made up his mind.
The mosque has been under siege by troops and police since Tuesday when fierce street battles between its hardline followers and security forces left at least 16 people dead.
Its freelance morality campaign in Islamabad included the abduction of police officers and people accused of running brothels, as well as raids on music and DVD shops.
In a major coup for the Pakistani government, Mr Aziz was caught late last night while trying to flee the mosque.
Officials said he was spotted because of his pot belly and unusual height.
Mr Aziz's brother and deputy leader of the mosque, Abdul Rashid, Ghazi, earlier reiterated his refusal to surrender. He claimed 1,000 male and female followers were still with him and that morale was high.
There are fears that some of those remaining inside the building are being used as human shields.
