07-11-2007, 02:03 AM
<b>Ghazi, 8 security personal among 70 killed in Lal Masjid raid </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The cleric died "in a hail of bullets" after troops spotted him in the basement where he spent most of the day barricaded with some children and women, interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said.
"Ghazi came out with four or five militants who kept on firing at security forces. The troops responded and in the crossfire he was killed," Cheema told AFP.
"It is a big blow to the extremist element in the country and a lesson for others."
Cheema said the other militants were also killed with Ghazi. The cleric's body was lying in the compound while soldiers battled to take control of the sprawling complex's 75 rooms one at a time.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"Ghazi came out with four or five militants who kept on firing at security forces. The troops responded and in the crossfire he was killed," Cheema told AFP.
"It is a big blow to the extremist element in the country and a lesson for others."
Cheema said the other militants were also killed with Ghazi. The cleric's body was lying in the compound while soldiers battled to take control of the sprawling complex's 75 rooms one at a time.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->