Pakistani Army Says Fighting At Lal Masjid Is Over

Mosque cleared of militants: Pakistan army

ISLAMABAD, July 11(AFP): Pakistani troops on Wednesday cleared the Red Mosque compound in Islamabad of militants after two days of fighting that left more than 60 people dead, the military told AFP.

“The first phase of flushing out and clearing the area of militants is over,” spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.

“The second phase is in progress to comb and sanitize the area of unexploded grenades and booby-traps. Bodies have to be gathered and taken out.”

Pakistani Army spokesmen have repeatedly said no noncombatants were killed -- only militants.

They've also been vague on the question of survivors.

So I don't imagine anyone's asking them how they can tell a dead militant from a dead noncombatant.

~~~

ninth in a series