Pakistan PM: Operation against militants inside Lal Masjid mosque ends

Pakistani soldiers return from the Lal Masjid mosque after military operation against militants inside the mosque ended on July 11. (Xinhua Photo)

    ISLAMABAD, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here Wednesday that military operation against militants inside the Lal Masjid mosque had ended.

    He told a group of foreign reporters in the prime minister's house that the casualties from the operation were less than expected and the figures would be announced by the military in a few hours. Full story

Pakistani gov't: Leader of Red Mosque militants killed in operation

    ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy chief of the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, was killed in the massive operation on Tuesday, the Pakistani government confirmed.

    Rebel cleric Rashid was killed by militants when he tried to surrender to Pakistani forces who stormed an Islamabad mosque, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said. Full story

134 people in Lal Masjid secured by Pakistani security forces

    ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The security forces have released 134 people from the Lal Masjid (red mosque) militants on Tuesday in an operation, a TV channel PTV reported.

    Those who were secured included 85 men, 27 women and 22 children, according to PTV.  Full story

Musharraf asks troops to continue Lal Masjid operation till mission accomplished

    ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has directed troops to continue operation against hard-line Lal Masjid till mission accomplished, the private DAWN NEWS TV channel reported Tuesday.

    TV reports said around 60 militants have been killed by security forces so far in the operation, launched in the wee hours of Tuesday after a talk negotiated through religious scholars failed to convince the besieged mosque armed personnel to surrender. Full story