Pakistanis blast wall of mosque school; 1 dead

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Pakistani commandos raided the compound of a mosque on Sunday where militants are holding out, blasting holes in a perimeter wall in the hope hundreds of women and children can escape, the military said.

The militants in the compound of the mosque and a girls' religious school, or madrasa, responded with heavy fire and the commander of the unit that mounted the attack was killed, said military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad.

Hundreds of troops have been surrounding the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, in Islamabad since Tuesday when clashes between armed students and security forces began after months of tension.

President Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday the militants and their defiant cleric leader had no choice but to surrender. If not, they would be killed.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL261867.htm

[Eugene]

1. 'Foreign fighters' in Red Mosque

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Sunday, 8 July 2007, 13:51 GMT 14:51 UK

'Foreign fighters' in Red Mosque

Pakistan's religious affairs minister has said foreign Islamic militants
are among those inside a besieged mosque in the capital, Islamabad.

Ejaz-ul-Haq said "terrorists... wanted within and outside Pakistan"
are fighting the army, which has surrounded the Red Mosque since
last Tuesday.

-snip-

The mosque's leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, said he and his followers
would commit suicide rather than surrender.

-snip-

Mr Ghazi told the BBC as many as 1,800 followers remain in the
Lal Masjid mosque, although this cannot be verified.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6282084.stm

---

Source: Reuters

Pakistani rebel cleric urges Islamic revolution
Sun Jul 8, 2007 9:52AM EDT

By Faisal Aziz

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A rebel cleric said he and his fighters
hoped their deaths would spark an Islamic revolution in Pakistan,
as commandos blew holes in the walls of their besieged mosque
compound to help women and children inside escape.

-snip-

The death toll from the conflict rose to at least 21 after a
lieutenant-colonel died when commandos came under fire from
the compound that houses a girls' madrasa (Islamic religious
school) as well as the mosque.

Government and military officials say rebel cleric Abdul Rashid
Ghazi has between 50-60 hard core militants -- some from al
Qaeda-linked Pakistani groups -- leading the fighting.

-snip-

Ghazi has said he preferred "martyrdom". In a statement carried
by Sunday newspapers the cleric said he and his followers hoped
their deaths would spark an Islamic revolution.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL18833720070708

[Igel]

2. At least they fixed the title.

The article's a bit unclear, but it sounds like they just blasted holes in the compound wall, not in the walls of any of the buildings inside.

[Eugene]

3. Pakistan gives besieged rebel cleric new ultimatum

Source: Reuters

Pakistan gives besieged rebel cleric new ultimatum
08 Jul 2007 18:20:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Recasts with final warning, three Chinese killed)

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD, July 8 (Reuters) - Pakistani authorities
issued a "last warning" on Sunday to a rebel Islamist
cleric and his fighters holed up in an Islamabad mosque,
as speculation mounted security forces would launch a
full-scale assault.

-snip-

"This is the last warning for you to surrender," authorities
said over loudspeakers outside the mosque, a resident
who heard the announcement said.

President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday gave the
militants a "surrender-or-die" ultimatum. He met top
security officials on Sunday evening.

"The final round has begun. There's a possibility," a
government official said when asked if an assault was
imminent.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL261867.htm

[ohio2007]

4. yet another "final warning" ? until the next absolute final warning !

from the article;

"We have firm belief in God that our blood will lead to a revolution," wrote Ghazi.

Government and military officials say the cleric has 50 to 60 hard-core militants -- some from groups linked to al Qaeda -- leading the fighting, and hundreds of women and children he is using as

human shields.

there are no female students, only human shields in the compound.

They are the true martyres in Pakistan

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/pictures/ISL29.htm

[Eugene]

5. Musharraf Will Let Clerics Negotiate

Source: Associated Press

Musharraf Will Let Clerics Negotiate

Monday July 9, 2007 10:46 AM

-snip-

By SADAQAT JAN

Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf
on Monday gave clerics more time to persuade defiant militants
to lay down their arms and surrender a mosque they have
defended against thousands of government troops, security
officials said.

The decision came at a high-level meeting grappling with how to
crack the weeklong armed resistance at the Lal Masjid, or Red
Mosque, in the heart of the capital.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they
were not authorized to speak to the media, said among the
mediators would be Taqi Usmani, a former teacher of the besieged
mosque's senior cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi.

Some clerics, including Usmani, have attempted without success
to persuade Ghazi to end the siege peacefully since the crisis
erupted. The government claims the mosque is being defended by
wanted terrorists.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6766611,00.html