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Pakistan supreme court orders rearrest of gang rape accused

Pakistan's Supreme Court Tuesday ordered the arrest of five men while it hears an appeal against their acquittals for gang raping a woman on the orders of a village council.

The decision is the latest twist in the three-year legal saga of victim Mukhtaran Mai, whose rape and subsequent treatment at the hands of Pakistan's justice system and government have sparked international outrage.

"I am very happy. I am feeling highly satisfied," Mai said as she embraced women's rights activists who came to greet her.

Mai, 33, launched an appeal on Monday against the acquittals of the five men, who had been sentenced to death for the June 2002 attack.

The men's convictions were overturned in March but they were quickly rearrested on the orders of the government.

They were then freed again earlier this month by the Lahore High Court.

"Non-bailable warrants of arrest of the respondents... are issued," Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said.

"The inspector general of Punjab police is directed to arrest them and hand them over to judicial custody, pending final disposal of the appeals."

He added: "They should be treated as under trial prisoners."

Pakistan's attorney general had called for the men's arrest earlier Tuesday.

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