10 militants killed, 15 injured in Pakistan army operation

Islamabad, July 10 (UNI) Ten militants were killed and 15 injured in an operation launched by Pakistan army to flush out radicals from the Lal Masjid here early this morning.

Pakistan army stormed the radical Islamic mosque after final talks between the government and firebrand cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi collapsed.

''Ten militants have been killed and 15 wounded so far,'' said military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad adding two personnel of security forces also lost their lives and eight were injured.

This was a massive operation aimed at clearing the area of militants, said Major General Arshad.

He said the operation is being carried out from three directions and troops have reached roof top of the mosque.

The spokesman said the operation is progressing well but since the compound was big, it was difficult to say how much time it would take to complete the mission.

He said militants are putting up fierce resistance, adding that they are using small arms and grenades.

Some 20 children escaped the mosque after the operation. They are being sheltered by security forces.

Ambulances rushed to the mosque to bring the injured and dead bodies to hospitals from there, as huge blasts were being heard till filing of this report.

Earlier local media reported that talks between the government negotiators and Abdul Rashid Ghazi failed, as the radical cleric of the mosque refused to surrender.

UNI