Death Toll in Red Mosque Siege Tops 80

Commandos clear compound after 8-day standoff, 35-hour battle
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 11, 2007 2:13 PM CDT

Soldiers completed the takeover of the Red Mosque early today, removing the final militants who had occupied the Islamabad compound during an 8-day siege. At least 80 were killed and 33 wounded in the past week, including 50 radicals and 10 soldiers in the climactic 35-hour final assault. "Now it's mopping up," said Pakistan's PM.

A general on the scene told the AP his commandos were still searching for mines on the property, where extremists had holed up with hundreds of hostages. The civilians escaped before and during the start of the military assault, which spells more trouble for Pervez Musharraf; opposition lawmakers seized on the situation as yet another reason they want the president to resign. (More Red Mosque stories.)

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