Bhutto barred from leaving home for rally

Pakistani police backed by armoured vehicles placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest in Islamabad today and reportedly rounded up 5,000 of her supporters to block a mass protest against emergency rule.

Miss Bhutto tried to leave her residence at 1.30pm but was told to turn back by police, her spokeswoman, Sherry Rehman, said.

The former prime minister had planned to address a rally in nearby Rawalpindi, defying a ban on public gatherings.

Kamal Shah, a top Interior Ministry official, said a district magistrate had served a "detention order" on Miss Bhutto so she could not leave her home.

Ms Rehman, however, said no arrest papers had been served on Miss Bhutto.

Ms Bhutto, speaking by phone from inside her house, said that no arrest papers had been served on her. "If I'm arrested the People's Party of Pakistan workers will continue to fight for democracy and the rule of law," she said.

In Rawalpindi, about 200 of her supporters were dispersed by police using tear and batons, dozens were arrested.

In a second clash, about two dozen supporters burst out of an alley, shouting, "Long Live Bhutto!"

Police, some on horseback, chased them away. Other supporters set a tire and garbage on fire.

Police fired tear gas shells from an armored personnel carrier, and the protesters pelted the police with stones.

Ms Bhutto's attempt to leave her house inside a car with tinted windows, and surrounded by about 50 supporters who tried to remove barricades, was blocked by police after scuffles.

Her vehicle only managed to travel about 40 yards before it was stopped.

"We are trying to pass through because we want to reach Rawalpindi. There was a baton charge. There was a barbed wire. People in Kashmir were also stopped from reaching here. Those who can reach Rawalpindi, they should try to reach there," Ms Bhutto said.

Police had said they were preventing her from leaving for her own safety after reports that suicide bombers were trying to attack her.

"The government says that some suicide bombers have entered Islamabad. If they have any such information, then why can't they arrest them?" she said.

At least 12 Bhutto supporters were arrested, including a woman who showed up with flowers.

In the north-western city of Peshawar, police used force to disperse about 300 Bhutto trying to reach Rawalpindi. About 25 were arrested.

Ms Bhutto's decision to join in anti-government protests against President Pervez Musharraf is another blow to the military leader whose popularity has plummeted this year amid growing resentment of military rule and failure by his government to curb increasing violence by Islamic militants.

Interesting? Click here to explore further