CRI听力:Pakistan School Siege Ends, 141 Dead

Pakistan's army has confirmed 141 deaths, including 132 children, in the attack on the Army Public School in its northwest city of Peshawar on Tuesday.

Nine staff members were killed and an additional 121 students and three staff members were wounded.

Military spokesman, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa:

"You know today is a very sad day. We have lost 132 children, innocent children, and nine members of the staff. They entered the school from the rear of the school, by cutting and crossing the fence. And then they came in, they entered the auditorium, where all the children were going through an exam and they started shooting them indiscriminately."

The general confirms the rescue operation has been completed, saying seven attackers, all wearing explosives vests, died in the assault.

Tehreek-e-Taliban, a Pakistani militant group trying to overthrow the government, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has traveled to the city.

He condemned the attack and offered sympathy to the victims' families.

"Our prayers go to the families whose children were killed in this tragedy. May God bless all those families. I think this war and struggle will continue until terrorism is completely rooted out of this country."

The school provides education for children of army personnel as well as civilians.

The Taliban said the attack is in revenge for government raids in Pakistan's northwest, which has reportedly left hundreds of Taliban militants dead.

The city of Peshawar is considered the gateway into Pakistan's loosely governed tribal regions, which are the home-base of the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates.