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| Red Mosque offensive 'nears end' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's army says an operation to flush out militants from a mosque in Islamabad is in its final stages - 24 hours after troops stormed the complex. | Pakistan's army says an operation to flush out militants from a mosque in Islamabad is in its final stages - 24 hours after troops stormed the complex. |
| Several loud explosions and gunfire were heard on Wednesday morning. | |
| During heavy fighting on Tuesday, the Red Mosque's militant cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and some 50 of his supporters were killed, the army said. | During heavy fighting on Tuesday, the Red Mosque's militant cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and some 50 of his supporters were killed, the army said. |
| Students at the mosque and its attached religious schools have waged a campaign for months pressing for Sharia law. | Students at the mosque and its attached religious schools have waged a campaign for months pressing for Sharia law. |
| On Tuesday, eight soldiers also died, and some 50 women and children were freed. | On Tuesday, eight soldiers also died, and some 50 women and children were freed. |
| Pakistan's military spokesman Gen Waheed Arshad said the battle had progressed slowly because the army was anxious to avoid casualties among the unknown number of women and children in the basement. | Pakistan's military spokesman Gen Waheed Arshad said the battle had progressed slowly because the army was anxious to avoid casualties among the unknown number of women and children in the basement. |
| The few remaining militants are believed to be holed up in the private quarters of Mr Ghazi. | The few remaining militants are believed to be holed up in the private quarters of Mr Ghazi. |
| This is naked aggression - my martyrdom is certain now Abdul Rashid Ghazi In pictures: Mosque assault Obituary: Abdul Rashid Ghazi From joy to despair | This is naked aggression - my martyrdom is certain now Abdul Rashid Ghazi In pictures: Mosque assault Obituary: Abdul Rashid Ghazi From joy to despair |
| 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. | 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. |
| But there is also the danger of a violent reaction from members of other radical mosques, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. | But there is also the danger of a violent reaction from members of other radical mosques, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. |
| They will almost certainly see Mr Ghazi as a martyr and his death may become a rallying point for Islamic extremists opposed to President Pervez Musharraf's rule, our correspondent says. | They will almost certainly see Mr Ghazi as a martyr and his death may become a rallying point for Islamic extremists opposed to President Pervez Musharraf's rule, our correspondent says. |
| Islamabad, the country's capital, remains on high alert. | |
| In recent days the army has redeployed thousands of troops in north-western Pakistan where pro-Taleban militants opposed to President Musharraf have been carrying out a string of attacks said to be linked to the mosque siege. | In recent days the army has redeployed thousands of troops in north-western Pakistan where pro-Taleban militants opposed to President Musharraf have been carrying out a string of attacks said to be linked to the mosque siege. |
| 'Killed in cross-fire' | 'Killed in cross-fire' |
| The troops attacked the mosque on Tuesday morning and took control of most of the complex during heavy fighting which raged as they went from room to room throughout the day. | The troops attacked the mosque on Tuesday morning and took control of most of the complex during heavy fighting which raged as they went from room to room throughout the day. |
| Red Mosque siege area | Red Mosque siege area |
| Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said Mr Ghazi was killed as troops were flushing out militants still inside a madrassa (religious school) for women and girls inside the mosque compound. | Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said Mr Ghazi was killed as troops were flushing out militants still inside a madrassa (religious school) for women and girls inside the mosque compound. |
| RED MOSQUE STAND-OFF 3 July: Clashes erupt at mosque, 16 killed, after long student campaign for Islamic Sharia law4 July: About 700 students leave mosque, now besieged by security forces; mosque leader caught trying to flee wearing woman's burka5 July: More than 1,000 students surrender to security forces6 July: Women are allowed to leave the mosque; students' deputy leader says he would rather die than surrender 8 July: Ministers say wanted militants are holding women and children inside the mosque9 July: Negotiators talk to mosque leader via loudspeaker without progress; three Chinese workers are killed in Peshawar over siege10 July: Pakistani troops storm mosque after failure of talks Eyewitness: Mosque siege Profile: Red Mosque | RED MOSQUE STAND-OFF 3 July: Clashes erupt at mosque, 16 killed, after long student campaign for Islamic Sharia law4 July: About 700 students leave mosque, now besieged by security forces; mosque leader caught trying to flee wearing woman's burka5 July: More than 1,000 students surrender to security forces6 July: Women are allowed to leave the mosque; students' deputy leader says he would rather die than surrender 8 July: Ministers say wanted militants are holding women and children inside the mosque9 July: Negotiators talk to mosque leader via loudspeaker without progress; three Chinese workers are killed in Peshawar over siege10 July: Pakistani troops storm mosque after failure of talks Eyewitness: Mosque siege Profile: Red Mosque |
| "He was spotted in the basement and asked to come out. He came out with four or five militants who kept on firing at security forces," Mr Cheema told AFP news agency. | "He was spotted in the basement and asked to come out. He came out with four or five militants who kept on firing at security forces," Mr Cheema told AFP news agency. |
| "The troops responded and in the cross-fire he was killed." | "The troops responded and in the cross-fire he was killed." |
| Brig Cheema said Mr Ghazi had used a number of women and children as "human shields", although the cleric always denied taking anyone hostage. | Brig Cheema said Mr Ghazi had used a number of women and children as "human shields", although the cleric always denied taking anyone hostage. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Hours before his death, Mr Ghazi accused the authorities of "naked aggression". | Hours before his death, Mr Ghazi accused the authorities of "naked aggression". |
| "My martyrdom is certain now," he told Pakistan's Geo television station. | "My martyrdom is certain now," he told Pakistan's Geo television station. |
| 'Terrorists' | 'Terrorists' |
| It is not clear how many people were inside the complex when it was stormed. | It is not clear how many people were inside the complex when it was stormed. |
| In addition to those killed, about 70 militants had been captured or surrendered, the army said earlier. | In addition to those killed, about 70 militants had been captured or surrendered, the army said earlier. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The outcome of this episode will determine the future of war against terror Muhammad Saeed, Islamabad Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The outcome of this episode will determine the future of war against terror Muhammad Saeed, Islamabad Send us your comments |
| 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. | 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. |
| The government had said it wanted to detain a number of people on a wanted list, and also a number of foreigners whom it said were inside. | The government had said it wanted to detain a number of people on a wanted list, and also a number of foreigners whom it said were inside. |
| Talks reportedly broke down over the militants' demand for an amnesty for all in the mosque. | Talks reportedly broke down over the militants' demand for an amnesty for all in the mosque. |
| The authorities said "hardcore terrorists" were inside the mosque, some belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda. | The authorities said "hardcore terrorists" were inside the mosque, some belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda. |
| Mr Ghazi had denied the presence of any banned extremist groups. He had said those inside were students of his religious school. | Mr Ghazi had denied the presence of any banned extremist groups. He had said those inside were students of his religious school. |
| THE RED MOSQUE SIEGE 1 Special forces attack compound from three sides and breach mosque walls2 Fierce fighting between military and militants on mosque roof3 Military take control of mosque and clear building4 Militants fire from mosque minarets as action switches to madrassa5Remaining militants holed up in its basement, with women and children | THE RED MOSQUE SIEGE 1 Special forces attack compound from three sides and breach mosque walls2 Fierce fighting between military and militants on mosque roof3 Military take control of mosque and clear building4 Militants fire from mosque minarets as action switches to madrassa5Remaining militants holed up in its basement, with women and children |
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