Cleric Killed At Besieged Pakistan Mosque

At Least 58 Killed In Day Of Fierce Fighting, 80 Percent Of Compound Under Government Control

(CBS/AP)  The chief cleric of the besieged Red Mosque in Pakistan's capital was killed Tuesday as troops were flushing out entrenched holdouts inside a women's religious school in room by room fighting, state-run television said.

Pakistan Television quoted the Interior Ministry as saying that the radical cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, was killed during the attack.

An army official said Ghazi had received bullet wounds and when he was told to surrender, he gave no reply. Commandos then fired another volley of bullets and found Ghazi dead, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.

Javed Iqbal Cheema, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, confirmed Ghazi's death and said the cleric's body was still lying in the compound, and that "battle hardened" militants were defending themselves.

Ghazi's death could end almost a day of fierce fighting between his supporters and security forces, but could also spark a violent reaction from Pakistan's hardline Islamic groups, already at odds with the country's Western-backed president.

Commandos stormed the sprawling mosque compound before dawn. Twelve hours later, the army said the complex was 80 percent cleared of militants but it was still trying to root out well armed defenders the government accuses of holding a number of hostages. A local relief agency said the army asked for 400 white funeral shrouds.

The extremists had been using the mosque as a base to send out radicalized students to enforce their version of Islamic morality, including abducting alleged prostitutes and trying to "re-educate" them at the mosque.

Pakistani troops battled militants entrenched inside a women's religious school inside the Red Mosque compound for more than 12 hours after raiding the mosque in the early morning hours Tuesday. A government official told CBS News that 50 militants died in the first two hours of the attack.

Eight Pakistani soldiers also were killed, the army said.

Khalid Pervez, the city's top administrator, said earlier as many as 50 women had been freed by the militants and emerged from the complex, following the escape of 26 children. It wasn't clear if any hostages remained in the estimated 20 percent of the sprawling compound still under militant control.

Gunfire and explosions thundered over the city earlier in the day, as Army spokesman Gen. Waheed Arshad said more hostages were still being held.

"We are taking a step-by-step approach so there is no collateral damage," he told reporters. "We are fighting room by room." He added that stun grenades were being used to avoid casualties among the hostages.

Government officials said up to 70 blasts were heard in the first two hours of the pre-dawn operation led by members of the military's special forces, the SSG (Special Services Group), which began around 4:00 a.m. local time, reports CBS News' Farhan Bokhari.

After last-ditch efforts to negotiate a surrender failed, commandos attacked from three directions and quickly cleared the ground floor of the mosque, Arshad said. Some 20 children who rushed toward the advancing troops were brought to safety, he said.

In addition to the women, Arshad said about 50 suspected militants, some of them youngsters, had been captured or emerged from the mosque since the fighting erupted.

He said the entire compound included 75 rooms, large basements and expansive courtyards.

An officer, who demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said earlier that troops had cornered Ghazi in the basement of the school, but held back from an all-out assault because a number of children were being held there as hostages.

Troops demanded four times that he surrender, but his followers responded with gunfire, and Ghazi said he was ready to die rather than give up, the officer said.

[rhs648]

The chief cleric of the besieged Red Mosque in Pakistan's capital was killed Tuesday as troops were flushing out entrenched holdouts inside a women's religious school in room by room fighting, state-run television said.

Correction the chief idiot extremist was killed.

Posted by radiob

radiob - notice what posters are missing from commenting on this article. Any ideas to explain this.

[telecom_1]

The Protaliban radical militant leaders hiding in the Red Mosque with their stockpiles of weapons recieved just judgement for their intolerant deadly cultlike rebellion.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by dargay at 09:04 PM : Jul 10, 2007


=====================
"Pope Says Other Churches Not True
Document Also Asserts Orthodox Churches Are "Wounded""

=====================


I rest my case..

[telecom_1]

The Islamic clerics need to stand up like men and declare suicidal mass murder wrong, suicide belts are a wicked, evil, filthy hearted device only Satan the Devil would promote and advocate.

[toolmangler-2009]

This event has repurcussions only in Pakistan, not elsewhere.

Posted by dargay at 09:04 PM : Jul 10, 2007
================


I mean no disrespect but you should understand that this message of become "Islamic/Muslim or be our slaves or die" is known world wide. If Islam wishes to continue to legally allowed to spread its territories, the people must stop the terrorism and murder associated with the advancement of this religion. I am not threatening Islam but I can read the signs of the times and trying to enlighten the People reading this news article. Some of them know what I am saying. I am Christian and undertand how and what religion can be warped to accomplish. For those who have sight you should realize that the NWO (New World Order (globalization)) is moving towared the control and/or outlawing of religion (all religion) that is not state recognized and authorized. Its coming people and it cannot be stopped. Bush is already moving to open our borders, Chavez is starting in the South American continent. Watch and learn..

[dargay]

This cleric made a mockery of Islam and the law. He brainwashed his students to become militants and launched attacks on citizens and security forces. After his refusal to change his ways, there was no option for the govt but to use force.

The anti-Islamic comments made on this board are unhelpful. This event has repurcussions only in Pakistan, not elsewhere.

[enriquecaliente]

I'm not a Democrate or Republican or Librial or whatever is the current flavor of the week.

I believe in live and let live, until they Fu@k with me and mine.

Anyone who endorses the killing of any other human on the grounds of religion or political BS idoligy, needs to be shot.

If you really want to stop this @rap then we need to do the following. We build two Atomic bombs, not big ones, little ones like the ones we used in WW2.

"As many know, the atomic bomb has been used only twice in warfare. The first was at Hiroshima. A uranium bomb nicknamed "Little Boy". "On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki fell to the same treatment. This time a Plutonium bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" was dropped on the city."

That's it light up a few of their cities and then lets see them talk $hit.

[patriotic9]

Posted by robertkjjj at 08:21 PM : Jul 10, 2007

I feel sorry that you were unable to prove any of your statement with valid reasoning. If you disagree with anything I said, please come up with valid reasons to prove me wrong.If you prove me wrong, I will correct my self and change my point of view. I bet you will never ever be able to bring valid reasons like I did because you are a member of PSYCHOTIC CHRISTIAN CLUB who was taught that SANTA CLAUSE comes on a FLYING DEER to distribute candies.

[robertkjjj]

Patriotic9, you've obvioulsy forgotten your meds today. Please: call your Dr, read the label, take the chill pills, and give yourself(and the rest of us who live in the REAL world) a nice break.

[patriotic9]

Jesus taught forgiveness love and tolerance. He said "Do good to your enemies. Love them that hate you, bless them that curse you."
Posted by telecom_1 at 07:41 PM : Jul 10, 2007

good to your enemies and bad to your friends. It's understandable, why JESUS-LOVING AMERICANS are GOD-NEGLECTED and why JESUS-HATING and JESUS-DENYING NON-AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE are GOD-CHOSEN.

Love them that hate you, bless them that curse you

Now it's clear why BUSH loves OSAMA BEEN-FORGOETTEN and why he let OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN escape from TORA BORA. Bush was following JESUS' teaching of loving OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN who hates AMERICANS.

It's also clear why BUSH is giving US TAX DOLLARS in the name of REBUILDING IRAQ and US WEAPONS in the name of ARMING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES to an ISLAMIC RADICAL "MALIKI" for the killing of our troops deployed in IRAQ, since ISLAMIC RADICAL "MAILIKI" hates United States.

Do good to your enemies

How great would be United States if we do good to OSAMA BEEN-FORGOTTEN.

CHRISTIANITY is PSYCHOSIS and CHRISTIANS are PSYCHOTICS.

[telecom_1]

Jesus taught forgiveness love and tolerance. He said "Do good to your enemies. Love them that hate you, bless them that curse you."

[patriotic9]

As a rule, Christians in America do not promote suicide bombings, beheadings, stonings, or murder.
Posted by rhs648 at 06:40 PM : Jul 10, 2007

Radical Islam is nothing but an extreme form of a PSYCHOSIS named CHRISTIANTY.

JESUS was an ISLAMIC RADICAL who gave his life for his cause just like his fellow ISLAMIC RADICALS do today.

JESUS was an ISLAMIC RADICAL who opposed HOMOSEXUALs' right of marriage while allowing same right for the HETEROSEXUALS(Discrimination based on SEXUAL ORIENTATION which is a violation of human rights), just like his fellow ISLAMIC RADICALS do today.

JESUS was an ISLAMIC RADICAL who opposed womens' right to choose ABORTION just like his fellow ISLAMIC RADICALS do today.

CHRISTIANTY denied HOMOSEXUALs' right of marriage, ISLAM took it to extreme and suggested DEATH for those guilty of HOMOSEXUALITY.

Regarding Suicide Bombings, beaheading, etc; If EUROPEANS were not brought into PALESTINE after WWII to occupy the land of those PALESTINIANS by force who had nothing to do with the actions of HITLER because BIBLE said so, Islamic radicals would not get enough recruits for Suicide Bombings because KORAN says so.

Mother of all the EVILS is BIBLE and CHRISTIANITY.

[xzavierbrown]

a liberal's request is simple:
"STOP KILLING TERRORISTS"

liberals are in a crusade to open our eyes that if we upset our enemies, that they might try harder to kill us..so just surrender, appease them and fight Bush so these enemies would mercyfull.

[rhs648]

We should treat those RADICAL CHRISTIAN TALIBANS in United States, who force women not to choose PROSTITUTION as a profession, who believe in making PROSTITUTION ILLEGAL, the same way like Musharraf trated their RADICAL MUSLIM TALIBAN BROTHERS in PAKISTAN.
I have a dream that one day our country will become a country of FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY like Sweden and Denmark.
Posted by patriotic9

Anyone who can't see the difference between radical Muslims and Christians in America has serious problems. As a rule, Christians in America do not promote suicide bombings, beheadings, stonings, or murder. The few fringe groups are watched closely and jailed for illegal behavior. Nor do Americans have to copy the Swedish or Denmark model if they don't agree with it.

[patriotic9]

Great job Musharraf!!!
These RADICAL MULLAHs who were guilty of forcing women to quit PROSTITUTION, deserved what they got.
We should treat those RADICAL CHRISTIAN TALIBANS in United States, who force women not to choose PROSTITUTION as a profession, who believe in making PROSTITUTION ILLEGAL, the same way like Musharraf trated their RADICAL MUSLIM TALIBAN BROTHERS in PAKISTAN.
I have a dream that one day our country will become a country of FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY like Sweden and Denmark.

[lars008-2009]

"When they came to arrest the Jews, I did not say any thing. I am not a Jew.
When they came to arrest the communists, I did not say anything. I am not a communist.
When they came to arrest the socialists, I did not say anything. I am not a socialist.
When they came to arrest the homosexuals, gypsies, mentally retarded, etc. I did not say anything, I am none of the above.
When they came to arrest me, there was no one to speak for me."

when they came for
http://www.qubetv.tv/videos/detail/3

is youtube pro terrorislam???
http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_856841_Michelle_Malkin_Video_Banned_on_Youtube.htm

[ozonmojo]

A signal achievement of the much-maligned Musharafff.The guy really got the guts to face the murderous Taliban scum.If Pakistan is saved from the Jihad lunacy,the eitire credit must go to the brave general.

[gunownerdan]

Let's hope the religious extremists don't have enough influence to cause larger problems in Pakistan. I remember reading somewhere that if you say anything bad about the koran in public in Pakistan, an angry mob will chase you down and stone you to death. It has actually happened.

[ajmarine1]

"The religious extremists had been trying to impose Taliban-style morality in the capital through a six-month campaign of kidnappings and threats."

Not everyone wants to live in the 4th Century.

[xzavierbrown]

oh my God!! the liberals would be PIS SED about this..