Some 80 people were killed in an attack by Islamic extremists on two mosques in Pakistan's second largest city of Lahore on Friday, Pakistani TV said, citing city authorities.
The attack began when a group of armed men threw grenades and opened fire at about 2,000 worshippers who had gathered for Friday prayers in two Ahmadi mosques in the eastern Pakistani city. At least 125 people were injured.
Pakistani TV reported that commandos stormed the mosques and freed the hostages after a two-hour battle.
The Islamist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab, a branch of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Several suspected militants were killed in the operation and two were captured.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab group unites several terrorist organizations in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province.
The Ahmadi Islamic sect has long been discriminated against and has suffered occasional attacks by extremist Sunnis, but nothing on this scale.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences over the attack to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
"Such inhumane actions can never be justified. Russia strongly condemns terrorist acts and opposes terrorism in all its aspects," the Russian leader said.
"We are ready to boost the collective efforts of the international community in counteracting this global threat, because we are convinced that this problem can only be solved through a consistent and uncompromising struggle against terrorists," he added.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also sent a telegram to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.
"We strongly condemn all forms and aspects of terrorism and support your government's efforts in the fight against extremist groups in Pakistan," the Russian government's press service quoted the telegram as saying.
NEW DELHI, May 28 (RIA Novosti)
