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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Benazir Bhutto killed in attack | Benazir Bhutto killed in attack |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack. | Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack. |
| News of her death was confirmed by a military spokesman and members of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). | News of her death was confirmed by a military spokesman and members of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). |
| Ms Bhutto had just addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi when gunfire and an explosion occurred. | Ms Bhutto had just addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi when gunfire and an explosion occurred. |
| At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack and several more were injured. Ms Bhutto had twice been the country's prime minister. | At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack and several more were injured. Ms Bhutto had twice been the country's prime minister. |
| She had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January. | She had been campaigning ahead of elections due in January. |
| Nawaz Sharif, also a former prime minister and a political rival, told the BBC her death was a tragedy for "the entire nation". | |
| "I can't tell you what the feelings of the people of Pakistan are today," he told BBC News 24 after returning from the hospital where she was brought. | |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett says the killing is likely to provoke an agonised response from her followers, especially from her loyal following in Sindh Province. | The BBC's Barbara Plett says the killing is likely to provoke an agonised response from her followers, especially from her loyal following in Sindh Province. |
| Ms Bhutto was key to her party, she was the focus of her party and she was a major political player amongst all those fighting for seats in the forthcoming elections, our correspondent adds. | Ms Bhutto was key to her party, she was the focus of her party and she was a major political player amongst all those fighting for seats in the forthcoming elections, our correspondent adds. |
| The PPP has the largest support of any party in the country. | The PPP has the largest support of any party in the country. |
| Analysts note that Rawalpindi, a garrison city, is seen as one of the country's most secure cities, making the attack even more embarrassing for the military authorities. | Analysts note that Rawalpindi, a garrison city, is seen as one of the country's most secure cities, making the attack even more embarrassing for the military authorities. |
| Scene of grief | Scene of grief |
| The explosion occurred close to an entrance gate of the park in Rawalpindi where Ms Bhutto had been speaking. | The explosion occurred close to an entrance gate of the park in Rawalpindi where Ms Bhutto had been speaking. |
| The blast caused carnage | The blast caused carnage |
| Wasif Ali Khan, a member of the PPP who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital, said she died at 1816 (1316 GMT). | Wasif Ali Khan, a member of the PPP who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital, said she died at 1816 (1316 GMT). |
| Supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog", referring to President Pervez Musharraf, the Associated Press (AP) reports. | Supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog", referring to President Pervez Musharraf, the Associated Press (AP) reports. |
| Some broke the glass door at the main entrance to the emergency unit as others wept. | Some broke the glass door at the main entrance to the emergency unit as others wept. |
| A man with a PPP flag tied around his head could be seen beating his chest, the agency adds. | A man with a PPP flag tied around his head could be seen beating his chest, the agency adds. |
| An interior ministry spokesman, Javed Cheema, was quoted as saying by AFP that she may have been killed by pellets packed into the suicide bomber's vest. | An interior ministry spokesman, Javed Cheema, was quoted as saying by AFP that she may have been killed by pellets packed into the suicide bomber's vest. |
| However, AP quoted a PPP security adviser as saying she was shot in the neck and chest as she got into her vehicle, before the gunman blew himself up. | However, AP quoted a PPP security adviser as saying she was shot in the neck and chest as she got into her vehicle, before the gunman blew himself up. |
| Mr Sharif said there had been a "serious lapse in security" by the government. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, at least four people were killed ahead of an election rally he himself had been preparing to attend close to Rawalpindi. | |
| Return from exile | Return from exile |
| The killing was condemned by the US and Russia. | |
| BENAZIR BHUTTO Educated at Harvard and OxfordFather 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 October class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2228796.stm">Obituary: Benazir Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7161605.stm">Life in pictures | |
| "The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan," a US state department official said. | "The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan," a US state department official said. |
| Russia's foreign ministry condemned the attack, offered condolences to Ms Bhutto's family and said it hoped the Pakistani leadership would "manage to take necessary steps to ensure stability in the country". | Russia's foreign ministry condemned the attack, offered condolences to Ms Bhutto's family and said it hoped the Pakistani leadership would "manage to take necessary steps to ensure stability in the country". |
| France spoke of an "odious" act and said it was deeply concerned. | France spoke of an "odious" act and said it was deeply concerned. |
| 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. |
| Since her return relations with Mr Musharraf had broken down. | Since her return relations with Mr Musharraf had broken down. |
| On the day of her return she led a motor cavalcade through the city of Karachi. It was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead. | On the day of her return she led a motor cavalcade through the city of Karachi. It was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead. |
| Are you in Rawalpindi? Do you witness the blast? Send us your comments using the form below | Are you in Rawalpindi? Do you witness the blast? Send us your comments using the form below |