WASHINGTON, July 3: The United States said on Tuesday that the clash at Islamabad’s Lal Masjid which left several people, including journalists, dead and wounded was an internal security matter of Pakistan.

A US State Department official, when asked for comments, acknowledged reading press reports about the incident but said the situation “appears to be quite murky” and details difficult to verify.

“This is an internal security matter for the government of Pakistan. And I would refer you to Pakistani authorities in Islamabad or at the Pakistan Embassy here in Washington for any information or characterization of these events,” the official said.

“We continue to monitor the situation and seek to verify media reports.”