国际英语新闻:Curfew imposed in Pakistani city after violence claims 10 lives

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Curfew has been imposed in a Pakistani city near the capital Islamabad hours after sectarian clashes killed at least 10 people and injured nearly 80 others, officials said Saturday.

Sectarian clashes started during a procession by the Shiite Muslims in the garrison city of Rawalpindi late Friday, police said.

Angry people torched a mosque and a cloth market in Raja Bazaar, a main business center in the city.

Army was called out to restore peace after the paramilitary military Rangers and the police could not control the incidents of firing. Troops are now patrolling the city to avoid any backlash.

Residents said that containers were placed on all entry routes to Rawalpindi from the capital Islamabad and other parts of the country early Saturday.

The authorities have asked the people to stay indoor as the curfew will remain in place until midnight on Saturday. They are advised to offer morning prayers in homes and do not go to mosques.

A Sunni group"Ahli-Sunnah Wal-Jamaat" claimed that those died were its supporters.

Cellular services in Rawalpindi will also remain suspended on Saturday and Sunday, officials said.

Officials said angry people also beat police officers and some also snatched their guns. Press photographers and cameramen also came under attack.

The trouble started as Shiite Muslims were taking out procession as part of religious rituals on the 10th of the Muslim holy month of Muharram.

Organizers claimed that some unidentified men snatched guns from police officers deployed for the security of the procession and started fire. Some people sneaked into a nearby cloth market and started burning shops there.

Some people on the rooftops of the building also started firing in self-defence to keep the miscreants away.

Leaders of the Shiite groups said the situation turned tense when someone from a mosque started announcements, asking the mourners to conclude the procession.