In a dawn raid, Pakistani forces fought through the Lal Masjid Mosque. They believed that a rebel cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, was hiding among the women and children of a religious school. After fighting through the islamic school, they found Ghazi barracked in the basement, using women and children as human shields. This was another development in the week long standoff, between the cleric and the Pakistani government.
General Waheed Arshad, the military spokesman has reported that at least forty militants and three soldiers have been killed, along with the 50 militants who have been arrested. He also reports that there are 150 hostages from the islamic school, and that 50 of these women were released and 26 children had escaped. Of the 150 hostages, none have yet been found.