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Muslims to offer Bhutto prayers Muslims to offer Bhutto prayers
(about 2 hours later)
British Muslims are expected to offer prayers on Friday for the former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber. British Muslims will offer prayers for the former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
In Bradford, where about 70,000 people of Pakistani origin live, the killing was condemned as a "sad day" for the country and a threat to democracy. Special prayers will be said at Birmingham Central Mosque after the usual Friday service.
Amid worldwide condemnation, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said "terrorists must not be allowed to kill democracy". Mosque chairman Dr Mohammed Naseem urged the people of Pakistan not to let the assassination destroy democracy.
Ms Bhutto was killed as she campaigned ahead of next month's elections. The spokesman for the Bradford Council of Mosques, Ishtiaq Ahmed, said the killing was "a major setback".
"The nation should stay calm and take time to come together and say we are not letting anybody disrupt our process of democracy," Dr Naseem said.
"Destroying property and killing people is senseless. Gun law is not the right law for any country."
The country, presently in the clutches of military, is being held at ransom by anti-democratic and terrorist forces Ishtiaq AhmedBradford Council of Mosques UK Pakistanis express shockThe country, presently in the clutches of military, is being held at ransom by anti-democratic and terrorist forces Ishtiaq AhmedBradford Council of Mosques UK Pakistanis express shock
Deadly riots later erupted in several Pakistani cities in the hours after the assassination, with at least 11 deaths reported as her angry supporters took to the streets. Salma Yaqoob, Respect councillor for Birmingham's Sparkbrook area, said that Ms Bhutto was a charismatic figure who came to Birmingham quite often where she was "always well received."
Mourners are now preparing to bury Ms Bhutto next to her father - who was executed in 1979 - in Larkana in the southern province of Sindh. She added that many Muslims in Birmingham had families in Pakistan and feared for their safety as riots later erupted in several Pakistani cities in the hours after the assassination.
The British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Robert Brinkley, is to attend the funeral. The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said the city's Catholic community would also be praying for Ms Bhutto and her family.
The spokesman for the Bradford Council of Mosques, Ishtiaq Ahmed, said: "The murder of Benazir Bhutto is a major set back to restoring democracy in Pakistan. He said: "The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a terrible crime which creates a critical situation in Pakistan.
"We shall also be praying for Ms Bhutto and her family."
In Bradford, where about 70,000 people of Pakistani origin live, the killing was condemned as a "sad day" for the country and a threat to democracy.
Council of Mosques spokesman Mr Ahmed said: "The murder of Benazir Bhutto is a major setback to restoring democracy in Pakistan.
"The country, presently in the clutches of military, is being held at ransom by anti-democratic and terrorist forces.""The country, presently in the clutches of military, is being held at ransom by anti-democratic and terrorist forces."
Bradford was a major support base for Mrs Bhutto's political party, the PPP.Bradford was a major support base for Mrs Bhutto's political party, the PPP.
Mohammed Akram, from the Hanfia mosque in Bradford, said people would be anxious to find out who was behind the killing. Mohammed Akram, from the Hanfia mosque in the city, said people would be anxious to find out who was behind the killing.
"We're shocked and we're very sad when we heard this news," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. The Pakistani flag flew at half-mast at the London embassy"We're shocked and we're very sad when we heard this news," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. The Pakistani flag flew at half-mast at the London embassy
"She had a lot of supporters in Bradford. In fact, her father had a lot of support and since then she was like a Bradfordian to us.""She had a lot of supporters in Bradford. In fact, her father had a lot of support and since then she was like a Bradfordian to us."
Earlier Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the killers as "cowards afraid of democracy". Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the killers as "cowards afraid of democracy".
It was a "tragic hour" for Pakistan but terrorists must not be allowed to "win there, here or anywhere", he added.It was a "tragic hour" for Pakistan but terrorists must not be allowed to "win there, here or anywhere", he added.
The Pakistani flag is flying at half-mast outside the embassy in London.The Pakistani flag is flying at half-mast outside the embassy in London.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the bombing, which killed about 20 people, a "senseless attack".Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the bombing, which killed about 20 people, a "senseless attack".
The Tories said it was "an appalling act of terrorism" and the Lib Dems a "hammer blow" to democracy in Pakistan.The Tories said it was "an appalling act of terrorism" and the Lib Dems a "hammer blow" to democracy in Pakistan.