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| Benazir Bhutto killed in attack | Benazir Bhutto killed in attack |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack. | Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack. |
| Ms Bhutto had just addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi when she was shot in the neck by a gunman who then set off a bomb. | Ms Bhutto had just addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi when she was shot in the neck by a gunman who then set off a bomb. |
| At least 15 other people died in the attack and several more were injured. | At least 15 other people died in the attack and several more were injured. |
| President Pervez Musharraf condemned the killing and urged people to remain calm so that the "nefarious designs of terrorists can be defeated." | |
| There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. | There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. |
| Ms Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), had twice been the country's prime minister and had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January. | Ms Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), had twice been the country's prime minister and had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January. |
| It was the second suicide attack against her in recent months and came amid a wave of bombings targeting security and government officials. | It was the second suicide attack against her in recent months and came amid a wave of bombings targeting security and government officials. |
| Nawaz Sharif, also a former prime minister and a political rival, said her death was a tragedy for "the entire nation". | Nawaz Sharif, also a former prime minister and a political rival, said her death was a tragedy for "the entire nation". |
| "It is not a sad day, it is [the] darkest, gloomiest day in the history of this country," he said, speaking at the hospital where she was taken. | "It is not a sad day, it is [the] darkest, gloomiest day in the history of this country," he said, speaking at the hospital where she was taken. |
| The United Nations Security Council is to meet for emergency consultations shortly to discuss the situation in Pakistan after the killing. | The United Nations Security Council is to meet for emergency consultations shortly to discuss the situation in Pakistan after the killing. |
| Scene of grief | Scene of grief |
| The attack occurred close to an entrance gate of the park in Rawalpindi where Ms Bhutto had been speaking. | The attack occurred close to an entrance gate of the park in Rawalpindi where Ms Bhutto had been speaking. |
| Extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan David Miliband UK foreign secretary class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161660.stm">International reaction class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7161751.stm">In pictures: Fatal rally class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161766.stm">Analysis: Blow to stability | |
| Police confirmed reports Ms Bhutto had been shot in the neck and chest before the gunman blew himself up. | Police confirmed reports Ms Bhutto had been shot in the neck and chest before the gunman blew himself up. |
| She died at 1816 (1316 GMT), said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of the PPP who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital. | She died at 1816 (1316 GMT), said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of the PPP who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital. |
| Some supporters at the hospital wept while others exploded in anger, throwing stones at cars and breaking windows. | Some supporters at the hospital wept while others exploded in anger, throwing stones at cars and breaking windows. |
| Police in the north-western city of Peshawar are reported to have used tear gas and batons to break up a demonstration by angry Bhutto supporters and there were also protests in other cities. | Police in the north-western city of Peshawar are reported to have used tear gas and batons to break up a demonstration by angry Bhutto supporters and there were also protests in other cities. |
| Mr Sharif said there had been a "serious lapse in security" by the government. | Mr Sharif said there had been a "serious lapse in security" by the government. |
| But an old friend of Ms Bhutto, Salman Tassir, told the BBC World Service he did not think criticism should be directed at the government. | But an old friend of Ms Bhutto, Salman Tassir, told the BBC World Service he did not think criticism should be directed at the government. |
| "There have been suicide attacks on Gen Musharraf also," he told Newshour. | "There have been suicide attacks on Gen Musharraf also," he told Newshour. |
| "... I mean it is extremism and the fanatics who are to blame." | "... I mean it is extremism and the fanatics who are to blame." |
| Earlier on Thursday, at least four people were killed ahead of an election rally Mr Sharif had been preparing to attend close to Rawalpindi. | Earlier on Thursday, at least four people were killed ahead of an election rally Mr Sharif had been preparing to attend close to Rawalpindi. |
| Ms Bhutto's death has plunged the PPP into confusion and raises questions about whether January elections will go ahead as planned, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. | Ms Bhutto's death has plunged the PPP into confusion and raises questions about whether January elections will go ahead as planned, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says. |
| 'Cowardly act' | |
| The killing was condemned by the US, the UK and others. | The killing was condemned by the US, the UK and others. |
| BENAZIR BHUTTO Father led Pakistan before being executed in 1979Spent five years in prisonServed as PM from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996Sacked twice by president on corruption chargesFormed alliance with rival ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2006Ended self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan in OctoberEducated at Harvard and Oxford Obituary: Benazir BhuttoLife in pictures | |
| "The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," US President George W Bush said. | |
| "Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice." | |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "deeply shocked" by Ms Bhutto's death and said "extremist groups... [could] not and must not succeed". | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "deeply shocked" by Ms Bhutto's death and said "extremist groups... [could] not and must not succeed". |
| Ms Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile in October after years out of Pakistan where she had faced corruption charges. | Ms Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile in October after years out of Pakistan where she had faced corruption charges. |
| Her return was the result of a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf in which he granted an amnesty that covered the court cases she was facing. | Her return was the result of a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf in which he granted an amnesty that covered the court cases she was facing. |
| It was only a matter of time before the darker forces... carried out this action Helen Stynes Swaffham Have your say | It was only a matter of time before the darker forces... carried out this action Helen Stynes Swaffham Have your say |
| But relations with Mr Musharraf soon broke down. | |
| On the day of her arrival, she had led a motor cavalcade through the city of Karachi. It was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead. |