Pakistan pounds militants after moderate cleric's murder

Source: DPA

Islamabad - The Pakistani military said Saturday it had killed 41 Islamic militants during the previous 24 hours, a day after two suicide bombings killed at least a dozen people including an anti-Taliban cleric.

According to an army statement, jets had pounded a stronghold of Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan tribal district in response to the suicide bombings in Lahore and Nowshera. 'Terrorists' hideouts and compounds were targeted in Makeen, South Waziristan Agency. The number of terrorist casualties is not known,' said the military statement.

=snip=

Tens of thousands of mourners on Saturday attended the funeral of Naeemi, who had bluntly criticized the insurgency and suicide bombings by the rebels. Businesses remained closed in many cities in protest against the assassination.

In a televised speech early Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the murder of the moderate cleric and resolved to fight Taliban militants 'to the end,' saying the country was locked in 'a battle for survival.'

Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1483309.php/Pakistan_pounds_militants_after_moderate_clerics_murder__Roundup__

waiting for us to do it.

Killing a moderate cleric beloved by the people of the region seems to have been a tipping point.

Let's see... that's 2932 virgins. Guys, I give your plan a low probability of working.