But Omars efforts to buy peace with Geelani were muddied somewhat, with reports that PHK-based Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin had addressed over mobile phone a massive gathering in a village just outside Srinagar.
It happened while the Hurriyat leader was holding his press conference, creating a confusing asymmetry. There was Geelani appealing for peaceful protests while the voice on the mobile phone, relayed to the crowd over megaphones, stirred the pot and urged people to flood the streets in large numbers because victory was near. There was no confirmation whether it was indeed Salahuddin but Srinagar was buzzing with rumours all the same.