'Jaish suicide bombers inside Lal Masjid': Musharraf

Islamabad, Jun 30: Admitting fear of bloodshed was preventing ''action'' against the radical clerics of Lal Masjid, Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf said that suicide bombers from al-Qaeda-linked Jaish-e-Mohammad were present inside the mosque.

''We tried to resolve the Lal Masjid standoff through negotiations to avoid bloodshed.I am not a coward but the issue is tomorrow you will say what have you done. There are women and children inside,'' he said, but hinted that the government had a plan ready, which would be implemented ''at the right time.'' President Musharraf said they had knowledge that members of banned militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, capable of undertaking suicide attacks, were also hiding in the mosque.

He admitted they were ''afraid of the baton-wielding madrassas who will stand by Lal Masjid if we launch action,'' adding that the female students of the Lal Masjid's adjoining madrassa were ''prepared for suicide attacks'' and up to 500 children ''were being used as human shields'' to stop the government from contemplating any operation.

''How can I take action? Action is ready but will be taken at a right time,'' he said in his address at the concluding ceremony of the National Media Workshop, organised by the National Defence University, here last evening.

President Musharraf said the government had evidence that foreign militants were planning attacks abroad from Pakistani soil, and warned that any terrorist attack in the West would have 'incalculable consequences'' for the country.

UNI