Women and children trapped in Red Mosque

Tajikistan News.Net
Sunday 8th July, 2007

Radical Islamists are holding women and children hostage inside a besieged mosque complex in Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, says those in control of the Red Mosque are hardened terrorists who have been trained to fight.

He says there are about five hardcore terrorists inside the mosque.

One of the militants killed on the first day of the siege has been identified as a member of Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed radical Muslim organisation which has been linked to al-Qaeda.

At least 21 people have died since fighting erupted when the army surrounded the mosque last week.

On the weekend, an army commander was shot dead by gunmen inside the mosque.

The mosque's leader, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, has said he and his followers will commit suicide rather than surrender.

Abdul Rashid Ghazi has denied the presence of any banned extremist groups.

He says those inside are students of his religious school and he is in charge.

More than one thousand of his supporters left last week under mounting pressure from security forces.

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