Lal Masjid (Islamabad)

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  vkvora2001

  At dawn on Tuesday, 10 July, 2007, after attempts at negotiation failed, government troops stormed the mosque, and took control of most of the complex during heavy fighting which raged as they went from room to room throughout the day. The Army hopes to finish the operation as soon as possible. Although the operation had started, the militants can still negotiate with the Pakistani Authorities. According to ISPR (inter services public relations) spokesman Maj General Waheed Arshad the militants are fully equipped and putting up fierce resistence. So far, an estimated 70 militants have either been captured or surrendered with 50 militants and 8 soldiers killed, 50 women and children have been rescued including the wife of captured mosque leader Maulana Abdul Wife of captured mosque leader [[Maulana Abdul Aziz]] rescued. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6288704.stm Troops cleared the ground floor of the mosque, but heavily armed militants have retreated into the basement using women and children as human shields and the standoff continues.<ref>Pakistani soldiers storm mosque - BBC Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 09:44 GMT 10:44 UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6286500.stm Military sources state the operation to take control of the mosque is in its final stages and will continue throughout Tuesday night. <ref>Seige Update:Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 20:40 GMT 21:40 UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6288704.stm Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, of the Interior Ministry, said the body of Mr Ghazi had been found in the basement of the women's school after what was described as intense fighting. Reports said the cleric had been shot twice and failed to respond when called upon to surrender. At that point, commandos fired a final volley of shots at him. Other reports said militants refused to allow Mr Ghazi to surrender and that he was killed in crossfire. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2753393.ece

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