This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7052310.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Attack on Bhutto convoy kills 130 Bhutto condemns Karachi bombers
(20 minutes later)
At least 130 people are now known to have died in the Pakistani city of Karachi when a suicide bomber targeted the convoy of former PM Benazir Bhutto. Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has accused supporters of late military ruler Mohammed Zia ul-Haq of being behind the bomb attack against her.
Hundreds of people were injured and there were scenes of chaos, with the streets littered with bodies. More than 130 people were killed in the suicide attack on her convoy following her arrival in her home city, Karachi.
Ms Bhutto, who had just returned to Karachi after eight years of self-imposed exile, was unhurt but her vehicle was badly damaged. Ms Bhutto, who had just returned to the country after eight years of self-imposed exile, was unhurt.
There had been warnings that she would be targeted by Islamist militants. Zia overthrew Ms Bhutto's father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977, and had him hanged two years later.
Her return followed a deal with Pakistan's military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf. The military ruler died in mysterious circumstances in a plane crash in 1988.
There were two successive explosions after midnight local time as Ms Bhutto and her entourage were moving slowly through a crowd of hundreds of thousands of supporters. Subsequent elections saw Ms Bhutto elected for the first of two stints as prime minister.
"The first blast was caused by a hand grenade. The second was the suicide attack," Manzoor Mughal, a senior police official told Reuters news agency.
Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process Gordon JohndroeUS presidential spokesman In quotes: Blast reaction From joy to horror In pictures: Blast sceneExtremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process Gordon JohndroeUS presidential spokesman In quotes: Blast reaction From joy to horror In pictures: Blast scene
Speaking shortly after the attack on her convoy, Ms Bhutto told Paris-Match magazine: "I know exactly who wants to kill me.
"It is dignitaries of the former regime of General Zia who are today behind the extremism and the fanaticism."
There were two explosions after midnight local time as Ms Bhutto and her entourage were moving slowly through a crowd of hundreds of thousands of supporters.
Hundreds of people were injured and there were scenes of chaos, with the streets littered with bodies and body parts.
"The first blast was caused by a hand grenade. The second was the suicide attack," Manzoor Mughal, a senior police official told Reuters news agency.
"The attacker ran into the crowd and blew himself up.""The attacker ran into the crowd and blew himself up."
He added that the head of the suspected bomber had been found, and it was estimated he had had 15-20kg (33-44lb) of explosives strapped to his body.He added that the head of the suspected bomber had been found, and it was estimated he had had 15-20kg (33-44lb) of explosives strapped to his body.
'War on terror'
There has so far been no claim of responsibility, but police say they are investigating whether the attack has links to tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, which are deep wells of support for al-Qaeda and the Taleban.There has so far been no claim of responsibility, but police say they are investigating whether the attack has links to tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, which are deep wells of support for al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
Ms Bhutto - who heads the country's largest political force, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - has professed her support for the US-led "war on terror", and said she was returning to Pakistan to combat extremism.Ms Bhutto - who heads the country's largest political force, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - has professed her support for the US-led "war on terror", and said she was returning to Pakistan to combat extremism.
She escaped death or injury because she was travelling in an armoured truck.She escaped death or injury because she was travelling in an armoured truck.
Most of the dead were members of the PPP, although police vehicles took the main force of the blasts and more than 20 police officers are thought to have died. A cameraman for a local TV station was also killed.Most of the dead were members of the PPP, although police vehicles took the main force of the blasts and more than 20 police officers are thought to have died. A cameraman for a local TV station was also killed.
'Flash of light'
Victoria Schofield, a friend of Ms Bhutto who was also on the bus, said the former prime minister had been standing on top of the bus for six hours, but had just gone downstairs to work on a speech when the first explosion went off.
"We were sitting up on the top and suddenly there was this absolute flash of light and a blast," she told the BBC.
"I felt lots of really hot air coming and we all - there were about 15 of us on the top of the bus - we all literally went to the ground."
Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, has accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of involvement.Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, has accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of involvement.
KEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Benazir Bhutto's homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January Flying into uncertaintyKEY DATES 06 Oct: Presidential polls held 17 Oct: Supreme Court resumes hearing challenges to Musharraf candidacy 18 Oct: Benazir Bhutto's homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held by mid-January Flying into uncertainty
Gen Musharraf had given some support for Ms Bhutto's return and the two could end up sharing power after elections in January. Ms Bhutto's return followed a deal with Pakistan's military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf. The two could end up sharing power after elections in January.
The United States has encouraged their alliance, to maintain nuclear-armed Pakistan's generally pro-Western stance.The United States has encouraged their alliance, to maintain nuclear-armed Pakistan's generally pro-Western stance.
Gen Musharraf said in a statement that the attack was "a conspiracy against democracy". Gen Musharraf said in a statement that the attack was "a conspiracy against democracy" and telephoned Ms Bhutto to offer his condolences.
The US said the blasts were clearly an attempt to stifle freedom in the country, but should not be allowed to derail pending elections. The US said the blasts were clearly an attempt to stifle freedom in the country, but should not be allowed to derail impending elections.
Regional powers China and India, as well as the United Nations and the European Union, also denounced the attack.Regional powers China and India, as well as the United Nations and the European Union, also denounced the attack.
After the blasts, a dazed Ms Bhutto was immediately rushed from the scene to her Karachi home. On both occasions that Ms Bhutto served as prime minister, her government was prematurely dismissed by the president of the day under special powers.
After flying in from Dubai earlier on Thursday, she had been planning to make a speech at the tomb of Pakistan's founding father, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. She left Pakistan in April 1999 - shortly before Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup, and two years after her husband was jailed and a series of corruption charges were brought against her. She denies the charges.
Ms Bhutto has been prime minister twice. On both occasions, her government was prematurely dismissed by the president of the day under special powers.
She left Pakistan in April 1999, shortly before Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup - and two years after her husband was jailed and a series of corruption charges were brought against her. She denies the charges.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
Name
 Name