At least 26 dead in Pakistani mosque raid: army
Posted: 10 July 2007 1134 hrs

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ISLAMABAD - At least 23 militants and three soldiers were killed Tuesday in a Pakistani army assault on a radical mosque in the capital Islamabad, the military said.

"According to my information 23 militants were killed and at least 15 injured. Three from the security forces were also killed and 15 wounded," Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP.

Arshad said he had "no information" about the fate of Abdul Rashi Ghazi, the firebrand cleric leading the militants holding out at the Red Mosque.

He also said he did not know if any women were among the dead. The government says female students from a religious school attached to the mosque have been held inside, along with children.

Arshad said there had been no suicide blasts yet inside the compound, following reports that 15 suicide vests had been issued to militants inside the mosque in the run-up to the assault.

Around 60 percent of the compound had now been cleared, he added.

The military made loudspeaker announcements to militants in the mosque that those who wished to surrender could come out with their hands up, otherwise they would be killed. - AFP/ir