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| Ex-PM Bhutto arrives in Pakistan | Ex-PM Bhutto arrives in Pakistan |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto wept as she set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time after eight years of self-imposed exile. | Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto wept as she set foot on Pakistani soil for the first time after eight years of self-imposed exile. |
| She has returned for power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf, which could see her becoming PM again. | She has returned for power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf, which could see her becoming PM again. |
| Her return was greeted by about 200,000 supporters surrounding Karachi airport and lining roads leading into the city. | Her return was greeted by about 200,000 supporters surrounding Karachi airport and lining roads leading into the city. |
| There is a huge security presence amid Islamist threats to assassinate both Ms Bhutto and Gen Musharraf. | There is a huge security presence amid Islamist threats to assassinate both Ms Bhutto and Gen Musharraf. |
| The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones was on board the flight carrying Ms Bhutto from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. | The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones was on board the flight carrying Ms Bhutto from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. |
| The streets from the airport are packed with peopleEnlarge Image The ex-prime minister said she was "excited and overwhelmed" to be back in Pakistan, our correspondent said. | |
| "It's an extremely moving and emotional moment for me," Ms Bhutto told the BBC after her arrival. | |
| "I was looking forward to it for so long, and when I actually landed here I was overcome with my emotions. I could not believe that this day that I have counted the hours, the minutes, the months and the years to, had finally arrived." | |
| Ms Bhutto was accompanied by about 100 members of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). | Ms Bhutto was accompanied by about 100 members of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). |
| At least 200,000 people have turned out to greet her in Karachi, lining the 6km (four mile) route from the airport into the city. | At least 200,000 people have turned out to greet her in Karachi, lining the 6km (four mile) route from the airport into the city. |
| The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says many people are dressed in the red, black and green colours of Ms Bhutto's PPP party and there is a carnival atmosphere, with music playing and food stalls in place. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says many people are dressed in the red, black and green colours of Ms Bhutto's PPP party and there is a carnival atmosphere, with music playing and food stalls in place. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I believe Benazir's return brings a renewed sense of hope Hamaad Haider, Karachi Send us your comments Many of them have been bussed in from outlying areas by Ms Bhutto's PPP - a show of organisational strength which the ex-prime minister hopes will boost her chances of a return to power, correspondents report. | HAVE YOUR SAY I believe Benazir's return brings a renewed sense of hope Hamaad Haider, Karachi Send us your comments Many of them have been bussed in from outlying areas by Ms Bhutto's PPP - a show of organisational strength which the ex-prime minister hopes will boost her chances of a return to power, correspondents report. |
| The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, also in Karachi, says that despite being away for eight years, Ms Bhutto is still enormously popular and enjoys great support, as a scion of Pakistan's pre-eminent political dynasty. | The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, also in Karachi, says that despite being away for eight years, Ms Bhutto is still enormously popular and enjoys great support, as a scion of Pakistan's pre-eminent political dynasty. |
| As Ms Bhutto's plane touched down the crowd began cheering and surged forward, but were beaten back by police and security guards wielding batons. | As Ms Bhutto's plane touched down the crowd began cheering and surged forward, but were beaten back by police and security guards wielding batons. |
| Assassination threat | Assassination threat |
| Authorities have tried to persuade Ms Bhutto not to undertake a long procession through Karachi to the tomb of Pakistan's founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, where she plans an address, due to security concerns. | Authorities have tried to persuade Ms Bhutto not to undertake a long procession through Karachi to the tomb of Pakistan's founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, where she plans an address, due to security concerns. |
| But Ms Bhutto said before leaving Dubai that she was undeterred: "I do not believe that any true Muslim will make an attack on me because Islam forbids attacks on women and Muslims know that if they attack a woman they will burn in hell." | But Ms Bhutto said before leaving Dubai that she was undeterred: "I do not believe that any true Muslim will make an attack on me because Islam forbids attacks on women and Muslims know that if they attack a woman they will burn in hell." |
| KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January In pictures: Karachi prepares Flying into uncertainty | KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January In pictures: Karachi prepares Flying into uncertainty |
| About 20,000 troops and police have been deployed in the city to oversee Ms Bhutto's arrival amid threats by Islamist militants to assassinate both her and Gen Musharraf. | About 20,000 troops and police have been deployed in the city to oversee Ms Bhutto's arrival amid threats by Islamist militants to assassinate both her and Gen Musharraf. |
| Some 2,500 paramilitary troops have been deployed around the airport, according to one security spokesman. | Some 2,500 paramilitary troops have been deployed around the airport, according to one security spokesman. |
| Gen Musharraf had asked Ms Bhutto to delay her return until the Supreme Court decided whether he was eligible to serve as president for another term. | Gen Musharraf had asked Ms Bhutto to delay her return until the Supreme Court decided whether he was eligible to serve as president for another term. |
| Tackling extremists | Tackling extremists |
| Gen Musharraf easily won a presidential vote on 6 October after opposition deputies in the national and provincial assemblies - which choose the president - either boycotted or abstained from the vote. | Gen Musharraf easily won a presidential vote on 6 October after opposition deputies in the national and provincial assemblies - which choose the president - either boycotted or abstained from the vote. |
| "She is the mediocre daughter of a great leader."In pictures | "She is the mediocre daughter of a great leader."In pictures |
| However, the Supreme Court said he could not be officially declared the winner until it had finished ruling on objections to his candidacy. | However, the Supreme Court said he could not be officially declared the winner until it had finished ruling on objections to his candidacy. |
| Ms Bhutto left the country soon after Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup. | Ms Bhutto left the country soon after Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup. |
| Washington has backed a power-sharing deal with Gen Musharraf which would see Ms Bhutto becoming prime minister. | Washington has backed a power-sharing deal with Gen Musharraf which would see Ms Bhutto becoming prime minister. |
| It has become increasingly concerned over the military's inability to defeat Islamist extremists and Gen Musharraf's rising unpopularity. | It has become increasingly concerned over the military's inability to defeat Islamist extremists and Gen Musharraf's rising unpopularity. |