Explosions Rock Besieged Pakistani Mosque

Militants Snub Surrender Plea And Government Troops Step Up Operations

(CBS/AP)  Gunfire and explosions rocked a besieged radical mosque in Pakistan's capital on Thursday as militants holed up in the complex snubbed a plea from their captured leader to surrender.

Paramilitary troops deployed around the mosque used low intensity explosives and teargas to force the hardliners to lay down their arms, while troops delivered periodic messages over loudspeakers urging militants to surrender, reports CBS News' Farhan Bokhari.

Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said troops were trying to blast holes in the walls of the fortress-like compound of the mosque and an adjoining seminary for girls.

Soldiers backed by armored vehicles and helicopters surrounded the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, before dawn on Wednesday, a day after the start of clashes between security forces and radical followers of the mosque that have killed 19 people.

The violence brought to a head a six-month standoff between Pakistan's U.S.-backed government and its top cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, who has challenged President Gen. Pervez Musharraf with a drive to impose Taliban-style Islamic law in the city.

The government, keen to avoid a bloodbath that would damage Musharraf's already embattled administration, said it would not storm the mosque so long as women and children remained inside.

However, several explosions rocked the area during a period of intense gunfire before dusk on Thursday, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky.

A leader inside the mosque accused troops of firing several mortar rounds that had killed 27 female students.

"A large section of the mosque is damaged and fires have broken out in the Jamia Hafsa (seminary)," Abdul Qayyum told The Associated Press by telephone.

"It's total chaos here. There is smoke everywhere and a fire in the room where we were keeping dead bodies" from earlier skirmishes, he said, coughing repeatedly.

Sherpao insisted no mortars were fired and that the alleged casualties were "just their claims."

The shooting later eased and the smoke cleared.

Officials said they were using helicopters and explosions to shatter the nerves of the mosque defenders and induce a surrender.

"We are using restraint on instructions from the president so that people surrender voluntarily," Sherpao said.

Aziz, who was captured Wednesday evening as he tried to slip through the army cordon disguised in a woman's burqa and high heels, said on state television that as many as 700 women and about 250 men remained inside the complex, armed with more than a dozen AK-47 assault rifles.

"If they can get out quietly they should go, or they can surrender if they want to," Aziz said. "I saw after coming out that the siege is very intense ... Our companions will not be able to stay for long."

His comments raised the prospect of a swift resolution and a victory for Musharraf, who is under growing pressure at home and abroad over spreading extremism and his botched attempt to fire Pakistan's chief justice.

But the cleric's brother, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, remained inside the mosque with followers and said there was no reason to give in.

Ghazi denied claims by officials that he was hiding in a cellar and using young students as human shields. He said all those in the mosque were volunteers.

"Why should we surrender? We are not criminals. How can we force those out who don't want to leave?" Ghazi, the mosque's deputy leader, told AP by telephone.

Qayyum, Ghazi's aide, declined to comment on the statement from Aziz or to describe living conditions inside the mosque, where power and water have been cut off for days.

[speakinup]

FeelFree1, I just want to know one thing. Where did they EVER find 1900 'spooks' to hole up in this Mosque ? My Gaud, they musta had a tough time. Are there that many CIA on the planet ?

Translation: Feelfree1, you still think it's CIA agents doing all the bombing because you are stupid. How you could ever begin to think the public would believe your warped sense of reality is beyond the rational mind. But, of course, that is the truth of it - you aren't sane.

So - just to set the record straight - There are al qaeda in Iraq, Iran is supporting them, they have been encouraged by your deeds, and you, feelfree1, are an ignorant terrorist lover.

[gunnerv1]

RingAding3 Janet Reno knows a thing or two about killing Children!

[ringading3]

They need to bring in Janet Reno, she will resolve this ASAP. This woman has experience in dealing with religious nut cases. Let Reno give them a few Wackos, and that will end that!

[feelfree1]

ptruth2,

Re: "not a religion, but a cult of death!"

Are you implying that there is a difference?

[ptruth2]

Islam - not a religion, but a cult of death! Under Islam, none of the following are allowed: music, theater, art, literature, falling in love with a non- Muslim, converting to another religion, practicing another religion, questioning Islam, and refusing to become a Muslim. All punishable by death. Go to Saudi Arabia, or any other Islamic state, and see for yourself. Islam - where Shiites kill Sunnis, Sunnis kill Shiites, and Wahabis kill everyone. What a great cult!

[kappa2323]

All jihadist are COWARDS COWARDS COWARDS COWARDS COWARDS COWARDS COWARDS... fight a real war...
or go home & be a man.... and fix your own problems in your own country...by...hmmm.. WORKING instead of asking GOD for favors....

JIHADIST MEN WILL BE COWARDS IN THE ALL EYES OF THE WORLD - NOT MARTYRS - WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO NAME THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN - COMPLETE COWARDS WHEN ALL OF HISTORY IS UPON THEM -- THEY CAN'T FIGHT A REAL BATTLE - SO THEY HIDE LIKE COWARDS BLOWING THEMSELVES UP TO THINK
THEY ARE REAL MEN - REAL MEN DON'T HIDE IN BATTLE -

[feelfree1]

Hopefully these heavy-handed actions will serve to further destabilize the rule of U.S.-backed, nuclear-armed, military-dictator, Pervez Musharraf.

[azhitman2]

The religion of peace!

[lars008-2009]

name one fascist nazi terrorislamic mullah cleric that ever did a suicide bombing themselves???

name one... just one...

guess they don't buy their own BS about virgins and paradise...

hahahahahahahaha

they will do anything to keep from dying while sending other gullible idiots to their deaths...

thank you demonic-rats%u2026
New Video From Al Qaeda Number Two
"You must be patient and steadfast," he says. "Rejoice, for victory is near, with Allah's permission, and the herds of crusaders have begun to split up and their sole concern has become searching for a way out."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/new-video-from-.html
London court jails 'cyber-jihadis' for online terror
Three "cyber-jihadis" who used the Internet to urge Muslims to wage holy war on non-believers were jailed for between six-and-a-half and 10 years Thursday in the first case of its kind in Britain.
Sentencing them, Judge Charles Openshaw said the men had engaged in "cyber jihad", encouraging others to kill "kuffars" or non-believers.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070705142313.zr9n5g5g&show_article=1
45 Muslim doctors planned US terror raids
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/05/nterror405.xml

[afmca]

I find this tough to say but ... Good for President Gen. Pervez Musharraf ! I think more Islamic countries need to realize you cannot coddle and cannot make concessions to radical Islam. That the mullahs of hate need to be taken on and destroyed before they do that to your country. Radical Islam and the Taliban offer nothing but oppression and intolerance.

Once again these hard-line radicals hide behind women and children in their quest for martyrdom. Their leader dressed in a burka trying to escape. For people so willing to have innocents die for their cause, they sure are pure chickensh*t when it comes to personal bravery.

[lars008-2009]

it is fascist nazi terrorislam stupid

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm
thank you demonic-rats%u2026
New Video From Al Qaeda Number Two
"You must be patient and steadfast," he says. "Rejoice, for victory is near, with Allah's permission, and the herds of crusaders have begun to split up and their sole concern has become searching for a way out."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/new-video-from-.html
Sentencing them, Judge Charles Openshaw said the men had engaged in "cyber jihad", encouraging others to kill "kuffars" or non-believers.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070705142313.zr9n5g5g&show_article=1
45 Muslim doctors planned US terror raids
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/05/nterror405.xml

[radiob-2009]

Nobody is going to withstand a barrage of tear gas for long.Give them a half a hour of tear gas assault and they will be surrendering.