Up to 50 militants dead as Pakistani military storms mosque after talks fail

There's a catchy headline. Anyhow...

quote:

---

Loud explosions rocked the Pakistani capital today as security forces fought intensely with militants holed up in a sprawling mosque compound in the heart of the capital. After 10 hours of fighting, 8 security forces and roughly 50 presumed militants were dead, according to the military. Roughly two dozen children, whom the army said were being held hostage, escaped.

---

Say, how do you like the latest news from Israel?

[ 10 July 2007: Message edited by: unionist ]

All that notwithstanding the fact that flying seems a particularly unsafe mode of travel for Presidents of Pakistan.

{edited for spelling}

[ 10 July 2007: Message edited by: oldgoat ]

quote:

---

Security forces began a full-scale siege of the Lal Masjid last Tuesday, not long after mosque students abducted seven Chinese workers they accused of running a brothel.

Public anger in the capital had been mounting after they kidnapped policemen as well as people they considered to be involved in immoral, un-Islamic activities.

Abdul Rashid Ghazi's body was found in the Red Mosque basement. Officials said he had been caught in the cross-fire.

Mr Ghazi was deputy leader of the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque). His brother, Maulana Abdul Aziz, who was head, was arrested trying to escape last week dressed in a burka.

One of the women rescued was said to be the wife of captured mosque leader Maulana Abdul Aziz.

Hours before his death, Mr Ghazi accused the authorities of "naked aggression". "My martyrdom is certain now," he told Pakistan's Geo television station.

Troops attacked the mosque overnight and took control of most of the complex during heavy fighting which raged as they went from room to room throughout Tuesday.

---

quote:

---

Twelve commandos were also killed during the 'Operation Silence', launched at 0400 hrs after the talks with radicals to resolve the stand-off peacefully failed.

---