Leader in Mosque Siege is Captured

New York Times:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 4 — The hard-line cleric who was leading Islamic militants in their standoff with government forces at a besieged mosque in the heart of the capital was captured late today when he tried to escape from the mosque disguised in a burqa, the concealing head-to-toe gown that many Muslim women wear, according to government officials and local media reports. ...

The arrested cleric is Maulana Mohammad Abdul Aziz, chief cleric of the Lal Mosque, who is known for his extremist and anti-American views and in the past has threatened suicide attacks if the Pakistani government did not enact Islamic law. ...

Security officials became suspicious of a group of female students leaving the mosque when they resisted a body search and scuffled with police, according to news reports here, and Mr. Aziz’s disguise — including gloves to conceal his hands — was soon discovered. Private television news channels showed video images of the arrest. He was seen being escorted by security officials and then bundled into a black Toyota Corolla car. ...