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Media visit of Lal Masjid on Thursday: Pakistani military |
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20:16, July 11, 2007 |
The operation of security forces against militants in Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, still continued in Pakistani capital city Islamabad, a military spokesman said Wednesday.
Talking to media, Pakistani military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said ten soldiers were killed and 33 wounded in the full-fledged operation launched in the wee hours of Tuesday.
The official said about 164 commandos carried out the operation, branded "Operation Silence".
He said that three more militants inside the Lal Masjid mosque and seminary compound were killed in the overnight fighting with the army.
The army spokesman said that the first phase of the operation was focused on getting the militants cleared of the mosque complex.
The second phase of the operation to clean the compound was underway, he said, adding that a visit of media men to the mosque complex would be arranged Thursday.
Holes in the walls of the mosque were made during the operation to get release of hostage children and women, Arshad said.
He denied any incident of suicide bombing in the country after the operation, saying that the law and order situation is under control.
Deputy chief of Lal Masjid Abdul Rashid Ghazi, killed in the compound by militants Tuesday, would be flown to his hometown in Rojhan Mazari, District Rajanpur of eastern province Punjab, officials said.
Security forces launched the full-scale operation around 4:00 a. m. Tuesday (GMT 2300 Monday) after a talk negotiated through religious scholars failed to convince the militants inside the mosque to surrender.
Source: Xinhua
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