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Bhutto funeral held in Pakistan Pakistanis mourn at Bhutto burial
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people have attended the funeral of killed Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Tens of thousands of people have attended the funeral of assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto.
Grief-stricken mourners converged on the family mausoleum where she was buried next to her father near their home village in Sindh province.Grief-stricken mourners converged on the family mausoleum where she was buried next to her father near their home village in Sindh province.
The coffin, draped in the flag of Ms Bhutto's party, was driven in a white ambulance through dense crowds.The coffin, draped in the flag of Ms Bhutto's party, was driven in a white ambulance through dense crowds.
Pakistani security forces are on high alert, as violence has broken out in several cities across the country. Pakistani security forces are on high alert, with 19 people killed in violence across the country.
President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm, following Ms Bhutto's death at an election rally on Thursday, where a gunman opened fire on the former Pakistani prime minister and then blew himself up.President Pervez Musharraf has appealed for calm, following Ms Bhutto's death at an election rally on Thursday, where a gunman opened fire on the former Pakistani prime minister and then blew himself up.
The plain wooden coffin was taken from Ms Bhutto's family home to the burial site 7km (four miles) away at the village of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.The plain wooden coffin was taken from Ms Bhutto's family home to the burial site 7km (four miles) away at the village of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.
Mourners - some weeping and beating their heads and chests - jostled to see the casket, which was accompanied by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari and her three children. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161660.stm">International reaction class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162639.stm">Press mourns Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words Mourners - some weeping and beating their heads and chests - jostled to see the casket, which was accompanied by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari and her three children.
As the funeral prayers ended and the casket was moved for burial, loud sobs broke out from the politicians supporters. As the funeral prayers ended and the casket was moved for burial, loud sobs broke out from the politician's supporters.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161660.stm">International reaction class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162639.stm">Press mourns Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words At least 17 people are reported to have been killed in ensuing violence, and security forces in Sindh have been ordered to shoot rioters on sight. Outside the three-domed mausoleum, crowds chanted slogans blaming President Pervez Musharraf for Ms Bhutto's death.
The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones, who is in the district of Larkana, says the mood among local people is one of anger, with activists from Ms Bhutto's party unsure who killed their leader.
The government said plans for planned parliamentary elections on 8 January remained unchanged.The government said plans for planned parliamentary elections on 8 January remained unchanged.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro said the government would consult other political parties on the issue.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.
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. Correspondents say that credible elections will be very difficult to hold with the leader of the largest opposition party dead and Mr Sharif refusing to take part.
Supporters' angerSupporters' anger
Violence broke out as angry supporters of Ms Bhutto took to the streets: Security officials say 19 people have been killed in violence as angry supporters of Ms Bhutto have taken to the streets:
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
    		•  Benazir Bhutto had been addressing rallies in many parts of Pakistan
  • A roadside bomb in the volatile north-western district of Swat killed a candidate from the ruling PML-Q party and at least three others, 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
  • in Peshawar, the office of a pro-government party was ransacked and set ablaze.
    		•
  • A policeman was shot dead and three others wounded in a shootout in an eastern part of Karachi. Several other people died as government offices, police stations and vehicles were torched by rioters
  • a policeman was shot dead by gunmen in an eastern part of Karachi, while government offices, police stations and vehicles were torched by rioters.
  • Police opened fire on protesters in Sindh's Hyderabad city, after banks, vehicles and businesses were set on fire.
    • 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. Security forces in Sindh have been ordered to shoot rioters on sight.
    But the Pakistani Interior Ministry said it was not aware of any specific claim of responsibility.
    Final speechFinal speech
    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.
    In pictures: Protest furyIn pictures: Last journeyWhat next for Pakistan? Seconds later, the attacker blew himself up, killing at least 20 people.In pictures: Protest furyIn pictures: Last journeyWhat next for Pakistan? Seconds later, the attacker blew himself up, killing at least 20 people.
    She was taken to hospital in the northern city, where she was declared dead.She was taken to hospital in the northern city, where she was declared dead.
    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.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 became the first democratically elected female prime minister in an Islamic country after Gen Zia ul-Haq, the man who overthrew her father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988.She became the first democratically elected female prime minister in an Islamic country after Gen Zia ul-Haq, the man who overthrew her father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988.
    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 Her father was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia 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 Have your say Her father was overthrown in a military coup by Gen Zia in 1977 and executed two years later.
    Ms Bhutto returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October, following talks with President Musharraf, which led to an amnesty for Ms Bhutto and a number of others charged with corruption.Ms Bhutto returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October, following talks with President Musharraf, which led to an amnesty for Ms Bhutto and a number of others charged with corruption.
    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' Militants blamed
    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 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.
    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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2228796.stm">Obituary: Benazir Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7161605.stm">Life in pictures But the Pakistani Interior Ministry said it was not aware of any specific claim of responsibility.
    US President George W Bush said the perpetrators had been murderous extremists trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. President Musharraf has blamed Islamic extremists for the attack, a view questioned by opposition politician and former cricketer Imran Khan.
    President Musharraf announced three days of national mourning, during which schools, commercial centres and banks are being closed. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2228796.stm">Obituary: Benazir Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7161605.stm">Life in pictures "It's all very easy for the government to blame everything on al-Qaeda and the terrorists, yet there could be other stakeholders.
    "I seek unity and support from the nation," he said. "The people who've been in power for five years surely were threatened by Benazir, how do we know they're not responsible?"
    Parts of Indian-administered Kashmir also observed a general strike in mourning of Ms Bhutto, called by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The authorities say they had warned Ms Bhutto of threats against her, but her supporters say the government did not do enough to protect her.
    Earlier Miss Bhutto had accused rogue elements of the intelligence services of involvement in a double suicide attack on her convoy that left some 130 dead as she returned to Pakistan in October.