RED MOSQUE -- SITREP JULY 7, NOON LOCAL

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002960 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DS/ITA DS/IP/SCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER PK SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE -- SITREP JULY 7, NOON LOCAL REF: ISLAMABAD 2954 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The strict curfew in the area around the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) remains in effect as of noon on Saturday, July 7. Gunfire and explosions continued intermittently overnight. After a several-hour lull Saturday morning, sporadic exchange of fire resumed. The rest of Islamabad continues to operate as normal. All Mission staff are safe and accounted for. Investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the shots fired at one of Pakistan's presidential aircraft July 6. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Explosions in the vicinity of the Red Mosque occurred around 19:00 Friday and again at around 01:00 Saturday morning. Gunfire continued intermittently overnight. Government forces may have blasted gaps in the mosque's perimeter walls to facilitate the escape of occupants who want to surrender. After a several-hour lull July 7 morning, sporadic exchange of fire resumed. ¶3. (SBU) On Friday evening July 6, the Interior Ministry gave official figures of 19 dead and 98 injured so far as a result of the confrontation. Authorities on the scene have not shared updated information regarding any casualties at the scene overnight. The Ministry also reported 1,221 people had surrendered (795 men and 426 women) as of Friday evening. The pace of surrenders slowed on July 6, with estimates ranging from 13 to 20 people coming out of the Red Mosque. Government sources have issued no new information regarding the number of militants and others who remain in the mosque. ¶4. (SBU) The government appears to be maintaining steady pressure on the Red Mosque to force the unconditional surrender of extremist cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his militant cohort. Water, gas and electricity to the mosque remain cut. Political, religious and civil society leaders have galvanized to put pressure on Ghazi to release women and children who remain in the Red Mosque against their will. ¶5. (SBU) RSO confirms that the strict curfew in Islamabad's G-6 sector remains in effect. All Mission staff are safe and accounted for. The 16 personnel whose residences are located in G-6 continue to stay at colleagues' houses. Businesses are operating normally in the rest of the capital. ¶6. (U) Police have recovered shell casings from the machine gun used to fire shots at one of the Pakistani presidential aircraft July 6. Police have arrested two people in connection with the incident. The aircraft was not hit by gunfire and President Musharraf continued on his journey to visit flood-affected areas in Turbat. PATTERSON