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Clashes in Islamabad

August 30, 2014

Pakistani police have clashed with anti-government protesters in the capital Islamabad. The demonstrators are trying to march to the prime minister's house to force his resignation.

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Pakistan Proteste Opposition 21.08.2014 Islamabad
Image: DW/S. Raheem

Police in Pakistan's capital fired tear gas on thousands of anti-government protesters as they tried to approach the official residence of Premier Nawaz Sharif.

The clashes are a dramatic escalation of Pakistan's fortnight of political crisis, with the protesters until now having camped outside the parliament building in Islamabad. The anti-government movement has been led by cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahir ul-Qadri.

Around 25,000 Khan and Qadri supporters were involved in the clashes with security forces. Some 20,000 police in riot gear were blocking the procession to Sharif's residence.

"The police are continuing to fire teargas to disperse (the protesters)," said an AFP journalist at the scene.

The opposition groups accuse Sharif of huge electoral fraud in parliamenty elections last year, in which his Muslim League won the maximum number of votes. Sharif has refused to step down.

jr/jm (AP, AFP)