Pakistan Police And Rangers Taken Hostage In Anti-France Protests

The protests have paralysed cities and led to the deaths of six policemen, prompting the French embassy to recommend all its nationals temporarily leave the country.

Eight Pakistan police officers and special rangers were being held hostage Sunday by supporters of a radical Islamist party, officials said, after days of violent anti-France protests. Rioting has rocked the country for the last week since the leader of the now-banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was detained in the second biggest city Lahore after calling for the expulsion of the French ambassador. The protests have paralysed cities and led to the deaths of six policemen, prompting the French embassy to recommend all its nationals temporarily leave the country. "The (TLP) group is still holding eight police officers, including rangers and constables, hostage. Some of those taken hostage in the morning were released later in the day, but eight still remain," Rana Arif, a police spokesman in Lahore told AFP, referring to the country's paramilitary force.