http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/rebel-cleric-killed-in-mosque-assault/2007/07/10/1183833517968.html
Rebel cleric killed in mosque assault Aftermath . an injured militant is taken to hospital. Photo: AFP Latest related coverage a.. Video: Islamabad mosque stormed Faisal Aziz in Islamabad July 11, 2007 PAKISTANI forces stormed a mosque compound yesterday, killing up to 50 militants including the rebel cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi, an interior ministry official said. "I can confirm Ghazi is dead," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "He was killed in the last stage of fighting." Around 50 Islamist fighters had died earlier in the assault on Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque. Militants mounted a last stand in the basements of the madrasa, where Ghazi had barricaded himself, using women and children as human shields, said a military spokesman, Major-General Waheed Arshad. The assault came as hundreds of armed supporters of the militants blocked the Himalayan Karakorum Highway that links China with Pakistan's North-West Frontier province. The blockade follows a protest on Monday by 20,000 tribesmen, many armed with rocket launchers and automatic weapons, in the tribal Bajaur region bordering Afghanistan. With more than two-thirds of the mosque-school complex secured, about 30 children and 24 women had managed to get out. It was unclear how many more women and children remained in the complex, but earlier officials had said hundreds could be inside. Fifty militants had been arrested, General Arshad said. Nearly 30 loud blasts rocked the heart of Islamabad for an hour beginning at 9.30am. There was another series of explosions after midday. There was no sound of gunfire. "It is now the final push," said a security official, who added that troops had failed to find anyone in one basement and were moving on to others. There were fears the militants might resort to suicide bombs. Officials said on Monday that militants had distributed suicide vests. Heavy loss of life among women and children could have serious repercussions for the President, Pervez Musharraf, who has been under pressure to confront the militants for some time. It was unknown how many people might be left inside, but the Religious Affairs Minister said on Sunday there were between 200 and 500, including women and children. The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, yesterday appealed for a peaceful resolution to the siege. "I sincerely appeal that this . be resolved peacefully, reflecting the human rights aspect." The Lal Masjid has been a centre of militancy for years, known for its support for Afghanistan's Taliban and opposition to General Musharraf's backing for the US. Before yesterday's assault began at least 21 people had been killed in the week-long stand-off that followed months of mounting tension between the mosque's hardline clerics and the Government. About 1200 students left the mosque early on in the siege. The Government has been demanding that Ghazi and his scores of hardcore fighters surrender unconditionally. He has refused, saying he would prefer martyrdom. He said he and the followers of his Taliban-style movement hoped their deaths would spark an Islamist revolution. Reuters, Deutsche Presse-Agentur [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
