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The Assault on the Red Mosque begins
Troops in Pakistan's city of Islamabad have stormed the Red Mosque, after talks with radicals broke down. "It is a final push to clear the place of armed militants," said military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad. The army said at 20 militants were killed in the operation, as loud explosions and gunfire were heard. Looks like Perv means business Twenty children escaped from the mosque, where women are also being held. Three soldiers are reported killed and some 20 others injured. C'est la guerre. Good about the kids getting out. Now can someone deprogram them?
Crack of dawn, I like that The troops entered the compound and exchanged fire with the militants holed up inside. It is an anxious wait for those with relatives inside the mosque You do wonder what they were thinking, letting their kiddies go to such a notorious place
The army said 20 militants were killed and another 15 injured. Local medical officials said 20 government troops were injured, and three had died of their wounds after being taken to local hospitals. The army says it has taken over the building's roof. However, it is meeting particularly strong resistance from militants in the basement, reports the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan at the scene. Urban warfare op, the terrs will use every hiding place, lots of booby traps,etc Those inside the mosque are using hand grenades, light machine guns, petrol bombs and other weapons, and the army says it expects the operation will last another four hours. we wouldnt want to desecrate the mosque, now would we? It is not clear exactly how many people were left inside the mosque when the assault began. Talks aimed at resolving the crisis peacefully reportedly broke down over the militants' demand for an amnesty for all inside the mosque. The government wants to detain a number of people on a wanted list, and also a number of foreigners whom it says are inside. and Aziz wouldnt let the AQ biggies go. But dont count on it being a household name "I am returning very disappointed," said former PM Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, after talks conducted by loudspeaker and mobile phone with mosque leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi. "We offered him a lot, but he wasn't ready to come on our terms," said Mr Hussain. well you couldnt offer him 70 virgins and eternal glory, could you? Students at the Red Mosque and its attached religious schools have been defying the authorities for several months in their campaign for Sharia law in the capital.
Law number 1 in Pakistan. Beat up on Shias and Christians, run guns to Afghanistan, blow up liquor stores, but NEVER, NEVER, touch the Chinese On Monday, three Chinese workers were killed in Peshawar in an attack said to be linked to the unrest in Islamabad. There is speculation that Islamic militants may be targeting Chinese people in Pakistan. Proof, as if more were needed,that these folks are insane.
Im glad Im not the only one who sees that At least 21 people have died since fighting erupted when the army surrounded the mosque last Tuesday, including an army commander shot dead inside the mosque on Sunday.
Did they get the body or is he rotting inside? Mosque leader Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups. "Here? Never. Just little girls. Very heavily armed little girls." He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge. Abdul Rashid Ghazi has said as many as 1,800 followers remained in the mosque, although this cannot be verified. More than 1,000 supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces, although only about 20 have left since Friday. Earlier, Mr ul-Haq said up to 250 militants - including foreign radicals - were leading the fighting. Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-07-10 |
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