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| Red Mosque 'cleared of militants' | Red Mosque 'cleared of militants' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The Pakistani army says it has cleared a mosque compound in Islamabad of militants, after two days of fighting. | The Pakistani army says it has cleared a mosque compound in Islamabad of militants, after two days of fighting. |
| At least 50 people inside the Red Mosque and 10 soldiers died after commandos stormed the complex, the military said. | At least 50 people inside the Red Mosque and 10 soldiers died after commandos stormed the complex, the military said. |
| One of the mosque's militant clerics, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, and some of his supporters were among those who died. | One of the mosque's militant clerics, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, and some of his supporters were among those who died. |
| The compound was besieged by troops for a week amid rising tension between radical students and the government. | The compound was besieged by troops for a week amid rising tension between radical students and the government. |
| Students at the mosque and its attached religious schools had waged a campaign for months pressing for the adoption of strict Islamic Sharia law. | Students at the mosque and its attached religious schools had waged a campaign for months pressing for the adoption of strict Islamic Sharia law. |
| 'No more militants' | 'No more militants' |
| Pakistani troops battled the last handful of rebels holed-up in a corner of the mosque compound until early afternoon. | Pakistani troops battled the last handful of rebels holed-up in a corner of the mosque compound until early afternoon. |
| Red Mosque siege area | Red Mosque siege area |
| Then, after nearly 36 hours of fighting, the army announced the end of its combat operation. | Then, after nearly 36 hours of fighting, the army announced the end of its combat operation. |
| Local residents' reaction to the Red Mosque stand-offIn pictures | Local residents' reaction to the Red Mosque stand-offIn pictures |
| "The first phase of the operation is over. There are no more militants left inside," army spokesman Maj Gen Washeed Arshad told the Associated Press news agency. | "The first phase of the operation is over. There are no more militants left inside," army spokesman Maj Gen Washeed Arshad told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Soldiers have begun collecting bodies and combing the area for booby traps and unexploded ordnance. | Soldiers have begun collecting bodies and combing the area for booby traps and unexploded ordnance. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said no bodies of women or children had been found inside the mosque compound yet, AP reported. | Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said no bodies of women or children had been found inside the mosque compound yet, AP reported. |
| 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; army says Ghazi killed11 July: Pakistani army says all militants cleared from mosque Profile: Red Mosque Press asks attack questions From joy to despair The troops attacked the mosque on Tuesday morning and took control of the complex during heavy fighting as they went from room to room throughout the day. | 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; army says Ghazi killed11 July: Pakistani army says all militants cleared from mosque Profile: Red Mosque Press asks attack questions From joy to despair The troops attacked the mosque on Tuesday morning and took control of the complex during heavy fighting as they went from room to room throughout the day. |
| 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. |
| Security forces began a full-scale siege of the Red Mosque, or 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 Red Mosque, or 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. |
| At least 21 people, including an army commander, were killed during the stand-off, while some 1,300 people managed to leave the compound. | At least 21 people, including an army commander, were killed during the stand-off, while some 1,300 people managed to leave the compound. |
| A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said Mr Ghazi's body was being sent to his home village in Baluchistan for burial. | A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said Mr Ghazi's body was being sent to his home village in Baluchistan for burial. |
| Backlash fear | Backlash fear |
| There is now a danger of a violent reaction from members of other radical mosques, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. | There is now a danger of a violent reaction from members of other radical mosques, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The outcome of this episode will determine the future of war against terror Muhammad Saeed, Islamabad Send us your comments Eyewitness: Mosque siege 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, she says. | HAVE YOUR SAY The outcome of this episode will determine the future of war against terror Muhammad Saeed, Islamabad Send us your comments Eyewitness: Mosque siege 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, she says. |
| Islamabad, the country's capital, remains on high alert and thousands of extra troops have been sent to the border area with Afghanistan amid fears of an Islamist backlash. | Islamabad, the country's capital, remains on high alert and thousands of extra troops have been sent to the border area with Afghanistan amid fears of an Islamist backlash. |
| Hundreds of angry demonstrators protested against the storming of the mosque in Karachi and Peshawar, near the Afghan border. | Hundreds of angry demonstrators protested against the storming of the mosque in Karachi and Peshawar, near the Afghan border. |
| An opposition Islamic alliance, the Mutahida Majlis Amal, has declared three days of mourning in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, AP reported. | |
| 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 madrassa5 Remaining militants holed up in its basement, with women and children Return to story | 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 madrassa5 Remaining militants holed up in its basement, with women and children Return to story |