Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 12, 2007

Pakistan's President Defends Deadly Raid on Radical Mosque
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=181F578:A6F02AD83191E1609B99925CFFDB22F99574F7DCC14957C0 During televised
address to nation, General Pervez Musharraf says military operation
began only after all efforts to negotiate failed





Pervez Musharraf addresses the nation on radio and Pakistan State
Television in Islamabad, 12 Jul 2007

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he launched a deadly raid on
a radical mosque in Islamabad only after all efforts to negotiate the
crisis failed.

During a televised address to the nation, General Musharraf said he
was saddened about the loss of life. He said the government tried
every means possible to defuse growing tensions without using force.



But he said the demands of the cleric who led the resistance were not
acceptable.

General Musharraf also vowed to crush extremism in every corner of
Pakistan during Thursday's speech.







Smoke rises from Lal Masjid during heavy gunbattle between Pakistan
troops and militants in Islamabad, 10 July 2007Pakistani troops
surrounded the radical the mosque compound last week after deadly
clashes erupted between security forces and armed students. President
Musharraf ordered a raid on the mosque early Tuesday after talks
failed.

More than 80 people were killed during the eight day siege, including
75 militants and 10 Pakistani soldiers.

Clerics and students at the Red Mosque had challenged government
authority for months using vigilante justice during their campaign to
impose strict Islamic law in Pakistan.

Also Thursday, Pakistan's army conducted a media tour of the mosque
compound. Journalists were shown an arsenal of weapons and a blackened
room where the army says a suicide bomber died with at least half a
dozen other people.

Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told reporters that of
the bodies recovered from the compound so far, 19 were burned beyond
recognition. He said women and children could be among those killed.


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