Students from a radical mosque in Pakistan's capital Islamabad have abducted a group of people, including women, accusing them of prostitution.

The students, who were reportedly armed with batons, raided a house in a residential part of the city which they said was a brothel.

There are reports that some of those abducted are Chinese nationals.

It is the latest act staged by hardliners from the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) since January.

The students claim to have taken nine people, including six women, the Reuters news agency reported.

It added that a security guard outside the house said "Taleban students" had taken away Chinese inhabitants.

But the Chinese embassy has not confirmed this.

'Immoral activities'

The AFP news agency reported that the group was taken from an acupuncture clinic in the F-8 neighbourhood, at around 0100 (2000 GMT) on Friday.

"We have registered a case against the mosque administration for the kidnapping," police officer Mohammad Naeem said.

In a statement the students said: "The foreign women were involved in prostitution in a massage centre".

Students said they wanted the group to give up their "immoral activities".

"We have not kidnapped anyone but have brought six foreign women and three men to persuade them," they said, according to Reuters.

"It is a natural reaction by students against vulgarity and obscenity."

The mosque has been openly defying the government for months, resulting in a tense stand-off.

Officials have tried to appease the mosque and its students with talks and concessions, saying they do not want to use force against the women and in a holy place.

But critics have attacked the government for failing to enforce its authority in the capital city.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6232746.stm

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