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Violence rocks Karachi

KARACHI, Pakistan, May 12 (UPI) -- Violence persisted through the weekend in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi between Pakistan's pro-government supporters and opposition parties.

CNN reported on the continuing violence, which led to gunfire Sunday that police said left at least three people dead.

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A day earlier, at least 36 people were reported dead as a result of similar clashes in Karachi.

Many of those killed were supporters of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was fired March 9 by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Chaudhry was expected to speak in the city, but he was unable to leave the airport, the BBC reported, and flew back to Islamabad.

An hourlong gun battle involved supporters of Musharraf's party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and supporters of the Pakistan People's Party.

Some of those killed Saturday were shot as they put up welcome posters for Chaudhry. More than 800 of his supporters had been arrested and as many as 15,000 troopers patrolled the streets of Karachi Saturday in advance of Chaudhry's speech, CNN reported.

All main roads -- including the road to the airport where Chaudhry had already landed -- were blocked Saturday in what Chaudhry supporters said was a move to restrict them. Supporters vowed to greet Chaudhry "at any cost," CNN reported.

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Musharraf, in a speech to a Pakistan Muslim League rally late Saturday in Islamabad, warned that those who persist in violence will be crushed, The PakTribune reported. Musharraf called on lawyers to end their protests and said the violence is impeding a free judiciary.

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