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Lal Masjid operation not yet over: Pak army spokesman |
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14:53, July 11, 2007 |
The major operation against a radical mosque in the Pakistani capital entered into its final stage Wednesday and was not over yet, the military said.
Huge explosions and firing were heard early in the morning and military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that three armed students were killed in the overnight clash.
He said that the final figure of the casualties would be announced after the operation.
On Tuesday night, he confirmed the deaths of 50 armed men and eight soldiers.
TV channels reported that another soldier died during the operation, taking the death toll of soldiers to 9.
Journalists were not allowed to visit the mosque and seminary compound and even the hospitals to check the numbers of the dead and injured.
"We are in the process of cleaning operation now to check if any unexploded device or mine is there," the army spokesman told TV channels.
He said that journalists would be taken to the compound after the whole compound is sanitized.
Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that dead body of the mosque deputy Abdul Rashid Ghazi would be taken to his hometown Rojhan Mazari in central Punjab province, where security was tightened for funeral.
The body of Ghazi, who was killed Tuesday evening, will be taken in a helicopter and a helipad was prepared, TV channels reported.
Reports said that media and the general public were barred from attending the funeral because of security concerns, according to local TV reports.
Sherpao said there would be no relaxation of curfew Wednesday and the people were asked to stay indoors.
Source: Xinhua
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