NEW DELHI, India: Indian Muslim clerics supported Pakistan government's decision to clear Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad and condemned use of the mosque for militant activities, saying it had tarnished Islam's image worldwide.

The religious leaders, however, said negotiations could have been given a greater chance to resolve the stand-off to avoid bloodshed.

Spokesman for Jamiat-Ulema Hind Abdul Hammed Nomani said: "Lal Masjid had become a centre of militant activities. The mosque's clerics were directly challenging the country's authority and they had to face what they faced."

The Jamiat leader said the militant clerics taking control of the mosque will send out wrong messages and damage the image of madarsas, which are already under intense pressure over their links with radicals.

Fierce gun battles took place at the mosque four days after security forces stormed it to flush out the militants. Jamat-e-Islami leader S Q R Ilyas also criticized the activities of Lal Masjid clerics.

"There is no compulsion in Islam and what the students of Lal Masjid were doing was completely wrong," he said.