About twenty five students from Islamabad's Lal Masjid -- or Red Mosques -- armed with sticks and knives stormed the clinic, kidnapping the occupants , and taking them back to their school.

"This place was used as a house to hide infecteds and despite our repeated warnings the administration failed to take any action, so we decided to take matters on our own," one student told an Islamabad TV station.

Police have surrounded the mosque and negotiations are taking place with the students for the release of the hostages, local officials said.

Police estimate that when the clinic was burned, as many as one hundred infected people were inside and killed. "Let me be clear - these people were not re animates. They were living sufferers. the clinic tried to help and assist where the Government failed. They gave them comfort and shelter. they protected the citizens of Lahore from any spreading infection. These are Lahor's poor and impoverished. They needed help" said an international Red Cross spokesperson assigned to help the clinic only last week.

A government source told ZWN there was a strong likelyhood of a military operation soon to be launched against the students school.