Islamabad, Pakistan ? Pakistani commandos battled die-hard Islamic militants holed up in a radical mosque Tuesday, killing an extremist cleric and dozens of his followers in a daylong assault that ignited fiery protests and calls for revenge by Islamic extremists.

The army said more than 50 militants and eight soldiers died during fighting that began before dawn, and gunfire and explosions still could be heard late into the night. Officials said troops were trying to clear militants from residential quarters next to one of the compound’s two schools.

Among the dead was pro-Taliban cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who had been the public face of a campaign by the Red Mosque leaders to use their students to impose puritanical Islamic rule in the capital.

Ghazi’s body was found in the basement of the women’s religious school in the compound after a fierce gunbattle, according to a senior Interior Ministry official, Brig. Javed Iqbal Cheema.

Several security officials said Ghazi had been hit by two bullets and gave no response when ordered to surrender.