Taliban Sympathizers Leave Lal Masjid Mosque

More than 700 Islamists who holed up inside the Lal Masjid mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan surrendered to authorities and left the mosque today. At least 21 were killed in yesterday's fighting and those who left the mosque aren't happy about it. They wanted to martyr themselves in jihad.

One of those who decided to give up, 15-year-old Maryam Qayyeum, said many were not leaving the seminary. ''They are happy. They only want martyrdom. They don't want to go home,'' she said.

The militants had been ordered by the government to lay down their arms and surrender by 11 a.m. Wednesday, following a day of bloody clashes between security forces and militants living inside the sprawling mosque compound.

All women and children who surrender will be granted amnesty, but males involved in killings and other crimes as well as the top mosque leaders would face legal action, said Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim.

The problem is that there is an undetermined number that remains inside, including a top militant commander.

A top Islamist militant commander with extensive fighting experience in Afghanistan has based himself with 40 fighters inside the radical Lal Masjid where at least 21 people have been killed in gunbattles between madrassa students and security forces.

The unnamed commander belonging to Mehsud tribe and having vast fighting experience in the restive Afghanistan has managed to enter Jamia Hafsa with a group of 40 fighters to support the students of Lal Masjid against the government, a source privy to the masjid said.

The jihadis who entered the masjid are well-equipped and well trained for situation like this, the source was quoted as saying by The Post.

One of the brothers of a Member of National Assembly from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is also accompanying the commander to strengthen the hands of radical students.

The Lal Masjid administration would be in a better position to take on the security forces after putting the girl students holed up inside the madrassa in safe locations, sources said.

A curfew is in effect around the area.

Considering that the women involved were just as violent as the men, I wonder about the amnesty granted to them, including $83 given to each to help them return home.

All Things Pakistan has running updates and notes that the Pakistani government is readying for a confrontation with the thugs inside the mosque.

UPDATE:
This report suggests that more than a thousand remain in the mosque.

UPDATE:
With all the women in the mosque wearing burqas, is it possible that some of the men might try to escape using such garb? Well, wonder no more - one thuggish leader appears to have tried (and is he in custody?). Sky News reports that up to 5,000 remain in the mosque.

UPDATE:
Well, it turns out that the earlier report was accurate. Abdul Aziz was caught trying to get past Pakistani security forces wearing a burqa. (HT: Charles at LGF) At least he made it easier to capture him, instead of hoping for a gun battle. Once again, we find that the terrorist leaders and thugs are more interested in exhorting others to battle rather than take the risks of battle themselves. They would much rather have other people martyr themselves than do the job. Of course, this will be lost on most of the Islamists, despite the honor-shame culture that pervades the conflict with the West.

UPDATE:
Hot Air reports that Aziz was purported to be the new spiritual head of the Taliban. Heh. Guess the Taliban will have to find a new one, unless they're going to spring Aziz from prison (always an option).

UPDATE:
Are the Pakistani troops preparing for a siege of the mosque? It certainly seems that way. They've demolished the walls leading up to the mosque, which is bound to provoke a response of some kind.

Pakistani forces early Thursday demolished the front walls of a radical mosque, where battles between security forces and students have raged for two days, intelligence and military sources told CNN.
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Radical students sit in a holding area Wednesday after surrendering.
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By loudspeaker, the forces warned students inside the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, that they had one last chance to surrender before a full attack took place.

More than 1,200 of the students have already surrendered, but hundreds more remain inside.

Heavy gunfire from both sides, punctuated by loud explosions and the firing of tear gas, erupted shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday (7 p.m. Wednesday ET).

The attack came hours after the mosque's top cleric was arrested while trying to slip away wearing a traditional woman's burqa.

At least 24 people, including two members of the security forces and one journalist, have been killed in the two days of battles.