Pakistani naval base siege ends: Report

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The overnight siege by terrorists at Pakistan's key naval base here has ended, BBC reported on Monday.

The rebels, who stormed PNS Mehran on Sunday, had put up stiff resistance as they destroyed two surveillance aircraft and left 12 security personnel dead.

BBC quoted naval sources as saying that the Pakistani troops have ended the siege and security personnel are now carrying out mopping-up operations.

The heavily-armed terrorists had also reportedly taken hostages, who included Chinese military personnel.

The fate of the hostages was not immediately known.

The Taliban reportedly said that the attack was to avenge Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's killing May 2 by US commandos.

Taliban gunmen armed with rockets and explosives, on Monday, stormed a major naval air base in the heart of Pakistan's biggest city, destroying two US-made surveillance aircraft and killing 13 personnel.

It was the worst assault on a military base since the army headquarters was besieged in October 2009, piling further embarrassment on the armed forces three weeks after Osama bin Laden was found living under their noses.

Up to 20 militants crept into the base in the teeming port city of Karachi from three sides under the cover of night late on Sunday, officials said, triggering gunbattles and a series of explosions.