Pakistan troops storm Islamabad mosque: military

afp ^ | 09/07/2007 | afp

[mdittmar]

Pakistani troops early Tuesday launched a massive operation against a cleric and his armed men in a besieged Islamabad mosque after negotiations failed, a top military official told AFP.

"The troops are now inside the mosque, they are at the roof top," top military spokesman Major General Arshad Waheed told AFP.

"It is a final push to clear the place of armed militants," he said, adding that the militants were putting up stiff resistance.

The talks between the Pakistani government and a cleric holed up with armed men at the mosque failed early Tuesday after he refused to release women and children allegedly held hostage, an official said.

Top government negotiator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain announced the failure after 11 hours of talks, which was followed immediately by heavy firing and two massive blasts.

"After 11 hours of negotiations we are deeply disappointed that the talks did not succeed," he told a news conference near the Red Mosque.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

He’s not a Martyr?

...B****

[gandalftb]

small arms fire, loud cracks, big caliber, 7.62

[ArmstedFragg]

I’m about as surprised by that as I will be by that big light in the east in about five hours. It’s always the same with these clowns, all burka, no camels.

[gandalftb]

no mention of the foreigners, must still be holding out, discussion of ghazis surrender, another loud crack, made Ghazi take off his kameez (religious robes) to see if he was carrying a suicide vest, more small arms fire

[gandalftb]

now, that was 7.62, its sniper fire from outside the compund!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

all burka, no camels.

LOL....I like that./......

[gandalftb]

fire coming from the “blue” area next to the madrassa, sounds like one shooter, moving around, definately 7.62

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

So they weren’t all inside the compound....geez....

[MARTIAL MONK]

Cow burp thread here

Chat

[gandalftb]

After warning the militants to surrender, final phase of the operation has now started against the militants and stun grenades are being used against them. Holed up in the servants quarters.

still can't find the hundreds of women and children known to be inside

[expatguy]

Great Updates!

Just chiming in over here now 1:30pm in Pakistan and the dust is not settled yet - even here in SE Asia -

Waiting to get further news before and update - but sadly things don't look good - not for Musharraf - he is the one who let things spin out of control in the first place.

There is a serious price to pay whenever you turn the military on against the citizens - and the USA is in a very difficult position supporting this guy - if he is serious about finishing the job - then he needs to move on the NWFP now without further delay.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

still can't find the hundreds of women and children known to be inside

They likely already executed them....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Shutting down here...thanks for the great updates....

[gandalftb]

very odd report that Mullah Rehman is holding out in the basement. We supposedly killed him in 2003. Real troublemaker from Afghanistan.

PA soldiers drove an APC around to try and draw fire. Trick worked and two groups gave up their positions by firing.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Headline Writers are gonna have a Field Day with this tomorrow.....

[gandalftb]

small arms fire again, very muffled, lots of short bursts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks,,,...Global Warming...the Great Hoax....

[gandalftb]

news conference: intense fighting in the southern areas, 20 minute cease fire to get women and children out, fire fight going on now, snipers still in the minarets, women and children in the basement, 8 dead, 29 wounded (soldiers), lots of women and children are hostages, clearing room by room slowly, explosions are stun grenades,

[expatguy]

You realize of course that the mosque has a long history and that many if not most of the dead are citizens of Islamabad.

[angkor]

just checked in (can't sleep).... there's a live PTV World news feed in English here:

http://wwitv.com/portal.htm

Just click on Pakistan on the left menu bar, and then select "PTV World 100K" from the Pakistan menu.

It's a realplayer streaming feed.