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ISLAMABAD - Dead bodies are "everywhere" inside a radical Pakistani mosque raided by troops on Tuesday, a source inside the complex told AFP by telephone.
A man who picked up one of top mosque cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi's mobile phones said those inside were under "massive bombing and gunfire. This is indiscriminate killing."
"There is no contact with each other because no one can leave the rooms and basements. There are dead bodies everywhere," the witness added, declining to give his name as explosions and gunfire echoed in the background.
One of those killed was Ghazi's own elderly mother, who died of suffocation from smoke caused by blasts, while Ghazi was still alive, the source added.
"The students are in different blocks and are determined to fight till death," he said.
The army says around 40 militants and four soldiers have died so far in the raid.
Rebels are still holding out in part of the compound and are believed to have many women and children with them, officials said.
Earlier, 20 children escaped from the Red Mosque in Islamabad when the soldiers launched the operation against the militants at daybreak.
Around 50 suspected militants surrendered to government forces during a break in fighting at the mosque, a military official said.
"Fifty militants have surrendered to troops after they were given a last chance to give themselves up," the official said on condition of anonymity. - AFP/ir
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