Ghazi, 50 other militants killed in Lal Masjid operation

Islamabad, July 10 (UNI) Hardline cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and over 50 other militants and eight soldiers were killed as the Army undertook a bloody operation today to flush out militants from the Lal Masjid here, giving a breathing space to the beleaguered Pervez Musharraf regime.

The ''Operation Silence'' was launched in the early hours today after talks to end the week-long standoff between the militants and the security forces broke down.

The security forces achieved their biggest success when radical cleric and deputy administrator of the Lal Masjid Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed in a shoot-out as security forces mounted the final assault to clear the mosque.

Interior Ministry officials confirmed that Maulana Ghazi, who led the resistance, after his brother and the chief administrator Maulana Abdul Aziz was apprehended last week trying to flee the besieged mosque in a 'burqa' among a group of female Jamia Hafsa students, was killed in a cross fire between militants and commandos.

State-owned PTV and private Geo TV have also confirmed Ghazi's death.

Geo said the 43-year-old cleric was asked to surrender and come out of the mosque, but refused.

At least eight security personnel, including an Army Captain, were also killed and 15 injured in Operation 'Silence', launched by the Pakistan army in conjunction with the paramilitary Rangers and the police after talks between the government negogiator and Ghazi failed late last night.

Inter Service Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Waheed Arshad confirmed that 50 militants and eight soldiers have been killed so far in the operation. '' Abdul Rasheed Ghazi's wife Umme Hassan and daughter are among 60 civilians freed by soliders during the operation,'' he said.

As many as fifty militants also surrendered after they were warned to lay down arms.

''The main concern of the government is to secure the safe release of women and children still inside,'' he stressed.

He categorically rejected some media reports that nerve gases have been used. ''There is no nerve gases with the Army nor are they being used,'' he said.

The ISPR DG told mediapersons that the operation was launched around 0400 hrs (0430 hrs IST) with security personnel entering the mosque complex from three sides.

He said it was likely that some portions of the mosque were damaged in the firing as the militants were using the minarets as firing positions.

UNI