BBC: Clashes erupt at Pakistan mosque ( The Red Mosque - fights for Sharia Law)

BBC ^ | Tuesday, 3 July 2007, 13:59 GMT 14:59 UK | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Blogosphere (/The Fourth Rail ):

Clash at Islamabad's Red Mosque

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Pro-Taliban students at the Lal Masjid attack Pakistani Rangers, one killed; The Lal Masjid calls for sucide attacks

Batan-wielding, burka-clad, sharia-enforcing women of the Lal Masjid.

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Yesterday, Mr. Shahzad claimed the U.S. has been given a green light to attack targets at will in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and South Waziristan. These claims have been made in the past but the Pakistani government has continued to appease the Taliban and al Qaeda from the tribal areas to Islamabad. Recently, President Pervez Musharraf said he was willing to raid the Red Mosque but feared media coverage of the assault would radicalize the population.

At first, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed ordered their cadre of suicide bombers to hold fast. "We request all those who are to carry out suicide bomb attacks not to carry out any attack at this moment," Reuters reported. Suicide bombers from the allied Jaish-e-Mohammad are believed to be holed up in the mosque. Aziz and Ghazi have repeatedly threatened to launch a suicide campaign if the mosque was assaulted by Pakistani security forces.

Aziz and Ghazi have now issued a broadcast within the mosque calling for suicide attacks. "We had asked to stop the firing 10 minutes ago, but as the firing continues we are calling for suicide attacks," Reuters reported.

The clash at the Lal Masjid occurred as the Pakistani Rangers were reinforcing positions around the mosque.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See link at #21,,,,direct tie to the NATO action....

[elhombrelibre]

Civil government and civilization all over the world is under attack by Islamists crackpots. Let’s hope Musharaf has the juice to keep a lid on these religious fanatics. In addition, he seems to be finally coming around to the idea that the Taliban and al Qaeda in the western part of his country must be confronted. It’s about time.

[SunkenCiv]

Armed students at the mosque and religious schools linked to it have defied the authorities for months in a campaign for Islamic Sharia law. The mosque and the two madrassas (religious schools) attached to it have been at the centre of a number of high-profile incidents. These include the kidnapping of police and people the mosque says are involved in immoral activities such as prostitution.

Death to Islam. Oh, and wear real fur. I love how the kidnappings are referred to as "incidents". The gov't of Pakistan should round up and execute every one of these "students", and bulldoze the mosque and madrassas while the buzzards peck out the carcasses. But I don't mean that, figuratively.

[AdmSmith]

Analysts see the action as the precursor to a major operation in Pakistan against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, whose ideological heartland is the controversial mosque. The brothers also run large Islamic seminaries - madrassas - for thousands of boys and girls.
Asian Times article: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG04Df03.html

Comments: They should have removed the mad brothers in the Red Mosque several months ago.

[PsyOp]

Re” #13

He really has no choice. The militant islamists have their base of support in this region. He has to root them out at the source or watch his country continue sliding toward civil war. I suspect this will be done in conjunction with major crackdowns in the cities. Things are about to get very unpleasant for the radicals in Pakistan.

He also has China and India looking over his shoulder. If the radicals take over in Pakistan, they are not likely to sit on their hands while some whackjob grabs the Paki nuclear football.

There is a lot at stake here. On both sides.

[Fred Nerks]

But I don't mean that, figuratively.

sounds good to me!

[SunkenCiv]

Well put.

[Marine_Uncle]

The clowns in that pictured should of course have been mowed down thrown in a hole and buried over.