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Bhutto funeral held in Pakistan Bhutto funeral held in Pakistan
(30 minutes later)
Thousands of people have gathered for the funeral of assassinated Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.Thousands of people have gathered for the funeral of assassinated Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Grief-stricken mourners converged on the family mausoleum where she is to be buried next to her father in their home village near Larkana in Sindh province.Grief-stricken mourners converged on the family mausoleum where she is to be buried next to her father in their home village near Larkana in Sindh province.
Pakistani security forces are on high alert, as violence broke out in several cities across the country. The coffin, draped in the flag of Ms Bhutto's party, was driven in a white vehicle through thick crowds.
Pakistani security forces are on high alert, as violence has broken out in several cities across the country.
President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm, following Ms Bhutto's death at a rally on Thursday.President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm, following Ms Bhutto's death at a rally on Thursday.
At least 11 people are reported to have been killed in ensuing violence, and security forces in Sindh have been ordered to shoot rioters on sight.At least 11 people are reported to have been killed in ensuing violence, and security forces in Sindh have been ordered to shoot rioters on sight.
The government said plans for planned parliamentary elections on 8 January remain unchanged.The government said plans for planned parliamentary elections on 8 January remain unchanged.
International reactionPress mourns Bhutto Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro said the government would consult other political parties on the issue. International reactionPress mourns Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro said the government would consult other political parties on the issue.
Correspondents say the death of the leader of the largest opposition party has raised huge doubts over the elections.Correspondents say the death of the leader of the largest opposition party has raised huge doubts over the elections.
Ms Bhutto's political rival Nawaz Sharif, also a former primer minister, announced that his party would boycott the vote in response to the attack.Ms Bhutto's political rival Nawaz Sharif, also a former primer minister, announced that his party would boycott the vote in response to the attack.
He also called for a nationwide strike on Friday, which the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says is being closely observed in some parts of the country.He also called for a nationwide strike on Friday, which the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says is being closely observed in some parts of the country.
Supporters' angerSupporters' anger
Overnight rioting left four dead and dozens injured in Karachi in Sindh province, police said. Violence broke out as angry supporters of Ms Bhutto took to the streets:
Protesters set dozens of vehicles on fire in the streets of KarachiIn the latest incident, a policeman was shot dead by gunmen in an eastern part of the city. Protesters set dozens of vehicles on fire in the streets of Karachi
  • Overnight rioting left four dead and dozens injured in Karachi in Sindh province, police said
  • A roadside bomb in the volatile north-western district of Swat killed a candidate from the ruling PML-Q party and at least two of his supporters, police said
  • In Peshawar, the office of a pro-government party was ransacked and set ablaze.
  • A policeman was shot dead by gunmen in an eastern part of Karachi, while government offices, police stations and vehicles were torched by rioters.
    • Businesses, government offices and police stations, along with dozens of vehicles, were attacked and set alight. Rioters also blocked several roads and set fire to tyres.
    In Peshawar, the office of a party supporting President Pervez Musharraf was ransacked and set ablaze.
    The Asia Times reported that one of their correspondents had been telephoned by the al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who said the network was behind the attack.The Asia Times reported that one of their correspondents had been telephoned by the al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who said the network was behind the attack.
    But the Pakistani Interior Ministry said it was not aware of any specific claim of responsibility.But the Pakistani Interior Ministry said it was not aware of any specific claim of responsibility.
    Final speechFinal speech
    Thousands of mourners have converged at Ms Bhutto's ancestral family home in Ghari Khuda Baksh, near Larkana, where she will be buried after Friday prayers.
    Ms Bhutto, 54, was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi, standing in the open sunroof of a car, when a gunman shot her in the neck and chest.Ms Bhutto, 54, was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi, standing in the open sunroof of a car, when a gunman shot her in the neck and chest.
    Seconds later, the attacker blew himself up, killing at least 20 people. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7162175.stm">In pictures: Protest fury class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7162301.stm">In pictures: Last journey class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162194.stm">What next for Pakistan? Seconds later, the attacker blew himself up, killing at least 20 people.
    Ms Bhutto was taken to hospital in the northern city, where she was declared dead.Ms Bhutto was taken to hospital in the northern city, where she was declared dead.
    class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7162175.stm">In pictures: Protest fury class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7162301.stm">In pictures: Last journey class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162194.stm">What next for Pakistan? Her coffin was later flown from Rawalpindi, accompanied by Ms Bhutto's husband Asif Zardari and their three children.
    Supporters of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) later carried her simple wooden coffin to a waiting ambulance, which took it to Rawalpindi's military airport. Ms Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996. She was sacked on both occasions after being charged with corruption.
    It was accompanied on board a military aircraft by Ms Bhutto's husband Asif Zardari and their three children, who had earlier flown to the capital, Islamabad, from Dubai. She became the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country after Gen Zia ul-Haq, the man who overthrew her father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988.
    Ms Bhutto will be buried next to her father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977 and executed two years later. Pakistan lost its binding bond in the shape of Great Ms Bhutto... It is high time that all political parties unite together to save Pakistan and get rid of Musharraf Muhammad Arshad, Lahore, Pakistan class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=3985&edition=2&ttl=20071227152602&#paginator">Have your say Her father was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia in 1977 and executed two years later.
    After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, Ms Bhutto became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country. Ms Bhutto returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October, following a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf, who granted an amnesty.
    Pakistan lost its binding bond in the shape of Great Ms Bhutto... It is high time that all political parties unite together to save Pakistan and get rid of Musharraf Muhammad Arshad, Lahore, Pakistan Have your say Ms Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996. She was sacked on both occasions after being charged with corruption.
    She returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October following a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf, who granted an amnesty.
    Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in the southern city of Karachi that killed more than 130 people.Shortly after her return, she survived bomb attacks on her convoy in the southern city of Karachi that killed more than 130 people.
    'Root them out''Root them out'
    The UN Security Council described it as a "reprehensible act of terrorism" and urged "all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country".The UN Security Council described it as a "reprehensible act of terrorism" and urged "all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country".
    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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words 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
    US President George W Bush said the perpetrators had been murderous extremists trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.US President George W Bush said the perpetrators had been murderous extremists trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.
    President Musharraf announced three days of national mourning, during which schools, commercial centres and banks are being closed.President Musharraf announced three days of national mourning, during which schools, commercial centres and banks are being closed.
    "I seek unity and support from the nation," he said."I seek unity and support from the nation," he said.
    Parts of Indian-administered Kashmir also observed a general strike in mourning of Ms Bhutto, called by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.Parts of Indian-administered Kashmir also observed a general strike in mourning of Ms Bhutto, called by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.