By Kamran Haider
from YAHOO! News

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani forces stormed a mosque compound in the capital on Tuesday after talks to end a week-long standoff with militants broke down. Initial reports put casualties at 26 killed and many wounded.

Big blasts and gunfire rang out over the capital as the assault began an hour before dawn, and more than three hours later the sounds of the battle were still being heard, though firing had become more sporadic.

By 7:50 a.m. (0250 GMT), military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad said more than half the mosque’school complex had been cleared.

Twenty children escaped as commandos overran Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, but a military spokesman said fierce fighting raged at the religious school and library in the compound, where hundreds of women and children were believed to be hunkered down.

Early information indicated 23 militants and three members of the security forces were killed in the assault, with many wounded, the military said.

“Progress is very slow because they’re using women and children as human shields. The area is heavily mined and we’re facing stiff resistance,” a security official told Reuters.

“The mosque has been cleared. Commandoes are now clearing the madrasa. They have cleared (the) rooftop of the madrasa and now trying to get down into the madrasa,” an intelligence officer said..

The militants put up strong resistance, using rockets and grenades as well as automatic weapons, the military said.

The attack began immediately after talks to end a week-long standoff with the rebel cleric inside Lal Masjid broke down.

Thick smoke shrouded the compound troops have surrounded since clashes erupted between armed student radicals and government forces on July 3.

There are fears the militants may resort to suicide bombs. Officials said on Monday that suicide vests had been distributed among the defenders.

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