PAKISTAN: Pakistani forces secure last parts of rebel mosque in Islambad as relatives await news on casualties

Pakistani forces secure the last parts of a rebel mosque while relatives anxiously wait for news of their loved ones, a day after an assault that killed a rebel cleric, more than 50 Islamist fighters and eight soldiers Pakistan counted the human and political cost on Wednesday (July 11) of an armed assault that killed a rebel cleric and at least 50 Islamist fighters and eight soldiers at an Islamabad mosque after a week-long siege. But the big question left hanging was whether any women or children said to have been at the mosque had been killed. The final toll was still unknown as mopping up operations at the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, went on. An occasional explosion rang out through the night from the mosque-school complex and several were heard shortly after dawn, making distraught relatives still awaiting news of their loved ones nervous. Relief organisations said they were trying to help track down missing relatives. "A total of 120 students have been released so far. We are trying to help people. We have been compiling name lists to help relatives secure the release of their children," said Ubaid, an official of the Khubaib Relief Foundation. Government spokesmen had no information on casualties among women or children, although before and during the assault they had accused the militants of stopping them from leaving, in order to use them as human shields. They said about 30 children and 27 women had managed to get out during the assault. But government officials earlier suggested hundreds had been inside. Some of the women were among the most fervent supporters of the Taliban-style movement led by Lal Masjid's two cleric brothers, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid Ghazi. The lack of information and left many relatives in the dark. "I am searching for my cousin, Rashid Ahmed, who was a student here," said Kifayatullah. "They (the government officials) are saying that they are giving 5,000 rupees to each student so that they can go home. But we've been without news of our relative for the past seven days. There is no knowledge of anyone's whereabouts," added Fazl Subhan, who was also searching for his relative. The cause of the blasts was not clear and military officials were not available for comment. Heavy security was still in place around the compound with reporters not allowed to approach and a curfew in the neighbourhood. A military spokesman said earlier there were certainly more than 50 militants killed. Eight soldiers were killed and 29 wounded in "Operation Silence", the codename for the final assault that raged from before dawn to after dusk. High numbers of casualties, especially among women and children religious students based at the compound would be very bad for President Pervez Musharraf, who is going through arguably the worst patch of a roller-coaster eight years in power. Elections are due later this year and the general, who came to power in a 1999 coup, is seeking a second five-year term. Many Pakistanis condemned the standoff. "This should not happen as Muslims are being killed on both sides. On one side the security forces men are Muslims while on the other those inside the mosque are also Muslims," said Fareed Khan, who was reading about the latest update on the mosque siege. "This is not Islam the way they are brandishing Klashnikoves, and grenades being recovered from them. This is wrong," added Muhammad Shah. Aziz was caught escaping a week ago, disguised in a woman's all-enveloping black burqa, but his younger brother died in a hail of bullets, along with hard core militants he had surrounded himself with, in a last stand on Tuesday (July 10) night.

ITN Source | July 11, 2007

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