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| Muslims offer prayers for Bhutto | Muslims offer prayers for Bhutto |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| British Muslims have offered prayers for the former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber. | British Muslims have offered prayers for the former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber. |
| About 3,000 worshippers said special prayers at Birmingham Central Mosque following their usual Friday service. | About 3,000 worshippers said special prayers at Birmingham Central Mosque following their usual Friday service. |
| Worshippers paid tribute to Ms Bhutto as they gathered for prayers. | Worshippers paid tribute to Ms Bhutto as they gathered for prayers. |
| Mosque regular Dr Mohammad Ijaz said: "She was a popular leader and her father was a great politician. It is a tragic loss of life." | Mosque regular Dr Mohammad Ijaz said: "She was a popular leader and her father was a great politician. It is a tragic loss of life." |
| Fellow worshipper Afsar Khan, 43, said: "The mosque was packed - about 3,000 people. People are very upset. I was really shocked yesterday when I heard the news. | Fellow worshipper Afsar Khan, 43, said: "The mosque was packed - about 3,000 people. People are very upset. I was really shocked yesterday when I heard the news. |
| "It's like when Princess Diana died - I will always remember where I was when Benazir Bhutto died." | "It's like when Princess Diana died - I will always remember where I was when Benazir Bhutto died." |
| Most people have been in contact with their loved ones in Pakistan and have been trying to find out what the latest position is Mohammad Bashir class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7162867.stm">FO warning on Pakistan visits | |
| Another Rabnawaz Chughtai, 41, said: "Pakistan's future position is dark now, because we have lost a leader. She represented not just Pakistan, but all over the world." | Another Rabnawaz Chughtai, 41, said: "Pakistan's future position is dark now, because we have lost a leader. She represented not just Pakistan, but all over the world." |
| "We have lost her, but there are more leaders who can hopefully combat that and bring the democracy back." | "We have lost her, but there are more leaders who can hopefully combat that and bring the democracy back." |
| But Mr Chughtai said Pakistan now needed to get rid of President Musharraf's regime. "He is in the way of democracy," he said. | But Mr Chughtai said Pakistan now needed to get rid of President Musharraf's regime. "He is in the way of democracy," he said. |
| Mohammad Bashir said: "Benazir Bhutto is a world-class statesman who was renowned throughout the world, not just in Pakistan. | Mohammad Bashir said: "Benazir Bhutto is a world-class statesman who was renowned throughout the world, not just in Pakistan. |
| "She was a very charismatic personality and intellectual character. Most people have been in contact with their loved ones in Pakistan and have been trying to find out what the latest position is. | "She was a very charismatic personality and intellectual character. Most people have been in contact with their loved ones in Pakistan and have been trying to find out what the latest position is. |
| This is a disaster for Pakistan and a tragic end to the life of a most courageous politician Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan | This is a disaster for Pakistan and a tragic end to the life of a most courageous politician Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan |
| "In most major cities there has been upheaval and unrest." | "In most major cities there has been upheaval and unrest." |
| In Bradford, about 1,000 worshippers turned out for prayers to remember Ms Bhutto at the city's Hanfia Mosque. | In Bradford, about 1,000 worshippers turned out for prayers to remember Ms Bhutto at the city's Hanfia Mosque. |
| Many of the men said they had spent the morning watching her funeral on television. One man, who did not want to be named, said: "She was a very nice woman and I'm very sorry to hear of her death." | Many of the men said they had spent the morning watching her funeral on television. One man, who did not want to be named, said: "She was a very nice woman and I'm very sorry to hear of her death." |
| "It is like losing my own sister," he said. | "It is like losing my own sister," he said. |
| Build democracy | Build democracy |
| Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan, who was a friend of Ms Bhutto's for more than 30 years since they met at Oxford University, said her death was a "stab in the heart of democracy". | Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan, who was a friend of Ms Bhutto's for more than 30 years since they met at Oxford University, said her death was a "stab in the heart of democracy". |
| He added: "I was in e-mail contact with her only a couple of days ago. This is a disaster for Pakistan and a tragic end to the life of a most courageous politician." | He added: "I was in e-mail contact with her only a couple of days ago. This is a disaster for Pakistan and a tragic end to the life of a most courageous politician." |
| Birmingham Mosque chairman Dr Mohammed Naseem urged the people of Pakistan not to let the assassination destroy democracy. | Birmingham Mosque chairman Dr Mohammed Naseem urged the people of Pakistan not to let the assassination destroy democracy. |
| Dr Naseem also called on Pakistanis to remain calm as violence erupted in the country amid fears of civil war breaking out. | Dr Naseem also called on Pakistanis to remain calm as violence erupted in the country amid fears of civil war breaking out. |
| He said the country's citizens should "take time to come together and say we are not letting anybody disrupt our process of democracy. | He said the country's citizens should "take time to come together and say we are not letting anybody disrupt our process of democracy. |
| "Destroying property and killing people is senseless. Gun law is not the right law for any country." | "Destroying property and killing people is senseless. Gun law is not the right law for any country." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown telephoned President Pervez Musharraf to pass on Britain's condolences and support. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown telephoned President Pervez Musharraf to pass on Britain's condolences and support. |
| Mr Brown urged Mr Musharraf to "stick to the course he has outlined to build democracy and stability in Pakistan". | Mr Brown urged Mr Musharraf to "stick to the course he has outlined to build democracy and stability in Pakistan". |
| 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 shock | 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 shock |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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 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 Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said the city's Catholic community would also be praying for Ms Bhutto and her family. |
| He said: "The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a terrible crime which creates a critical situation 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." | "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. | 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. |
| 'Terrorist forces' | 'Terrorist forces' |
| Bradford Council of Mosques spokesman Ishtiaq Ahmed said: "The murder of Benazir Bhutto is a major setback to restoring democracy in Pakistan. | Bradford Council of Mosques spokesman Ishtiaq 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 the city, 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, the prime minister condemned the attack as "a cowardly terrorist act designed to destabilise democratic elections". | Earlier, the prime minister condemned the attack as "a cowardly terrorist act designed to destabilise democratic elections". |
| He told President Musharraf: "The international community is united in its outrage and determination that those who stoop to such tactics shall not prevail. | He told President Musharraf: "The international community is united in its outrage and determination that those who stoop to such tactics shall not prevail. |
| "This deadly attack is also a potent reminder of the threat we face from terror. | "This deadly attack is also a potent reminder of the threat we face from terror. |
| "Pakistan is a major ally in the global effort to combat this menace." | "Pakistan is a major ally in the global effort to combat this menace." |
| Mr Brown also pledged his support in the "efforts to destroy al Qaeda" during the conversation with Mr Musharraf, Downing Street said. | Mr Brown also pledged his support in the "efforts to destroy al Qaeda" during the conversation with Mr Musharraf, Downing Street said. |
| 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 called it a "hammer blow" to democracy in Pakistan. | The Tories said it was "an appalling act of terrorism" and the Lib Dems called it a "hammer blow" to democracy in Pakistan. |