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Police Break up Protest by Lawyers in Pakistan

Lawyers opposed to Gen. Pervez Musharraf's candidacy in next week's presidential election engaged in running battles with police Saturday in Islamabad. The trouble erupted a day after Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected several petitions that argued it is illegal for the country's current leader to run for office or be elected.

Several hundred lawyers gathered outside the country's Supreme Court to protest the court's decision from the previous day. The lawyers were vastly outnumbered by riot police and other security forces.

The police confronted the protesting lawyers with tear gas, sticks and rocks.

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Philip Reeves is an award-winning international correspondent covering South America. Previously, he served as NPR's correspondent covering Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.