Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says all 1,400 foreign nationals studying in the country's madrassas or Islamic seminaries will have to leave the country, because their visas will not be renewed.
General Musharraf told a news conference at his army home in Rawalpindi Friday, no new visas would be issued to non-Pakistanis who wish to study in these seminaries. The ban would also apply to holders of dual citizenship.
He said his government will issue an ordinance to this effect within the next few days. General Musharraf has already asked all seminaries to register with the government by the end of the year.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been urging Pakistan to move against extremists and radical madrassas, following news that some of the London July 7 bombers had recently visited a Pakistani madrassa.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.