Pakistan police and Qadri supporters in deadly clash
At least four people have been killed in Pakistan's Punjab province, in clashes between police and supporters of a leading anti-government cleric.
Many have been wounded in the violence, which occurred after police blocked roads to the provincial capital Lahore.
The cleric, Tahirul Qadri, is due to hold a large demonstration in the city on Sunday.
The event is partly a protest against the deaths of at least eight Qadri supporters in at a rally in June.
The cleric said that the latest clashes began on Friday when police tried to stop convoys of protesters gathering near his home in Lahore.
His supporters briefly abducted six police officers, before releasing them unharmed.
Police said they fired tear gas and that about 20 officers were wounded. Around 500 protesters were also arrested, police said.
Military ties
Mr Qadri, who until recently was based in Canada, returned to Pakistan in June and is one of Pakistan's most prominent political and religious figures.
He leads the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) party and has condemned the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as corrupt.
Clashes between his supporters and security forces clashed began on Friday
Mr Qadri's supporters regard the government of PM Nawaz Sharif as corrupt
Mr Qadri says he plans to lead a peaceful revolt against Mr Sharif, who he says has failed to solve basic problems such as unemployment and frequent electricity outages.
At least eight people were killed when police in Lahore used live ammunition against his followers last month.
Correspondents say there is widespread suspicion in Pakistan that Mr Qadri's return was encouraged by Pakistan's powerful military, following recent tensions with the prime minister.
Mr Qadri has called for a military-backed government to take over from Mr Sharif, but has denied being supported by the army.
Opposition politician Imran Khan is also due to lead a large demonstration in Islamabad on Thursday.
He says there were irregularities in the last year's parliamentary elections, in which his Tehreek-e-Insaf party came second.
Police have already blocked off many roads around Islamabad ahead of Mr Khan's protest.
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