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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Pakistan 'likely' to delay vote | Pakistan 'likely' to delay vote |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's general election is "likely" to be postponed for several weeks in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the ruling party says. | Pakistan's general election is "likely" to be postponed for several weeks in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the ruling party says. |
| Tariq Azim of the ruling PML-Q party said the vote would lose credibility if held as planned on 8 January. | Tariq Azim of the ruling PML-Q party said the vote would lose credibility if held as planned on 8 January. |
| Pakistan has been swept by unrest since Ms Bhutto's death, and several parties have threatened to boycott the poll. | Pakistan has been swept by unrest since Ms Bhutto's death, and several parties have threatened to boycott the poll. |
| Ms Bhutto's party has begun a meeting to decide on her successor, where her political will is due to be read. | Ms Bhutto's party has begun a meeting to decide on her successor, where her political will is due to be read. |
| Members of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) gathered at Ms Bhutto's family home in Naudero, in the district of Larkana, to discuss her intentions. | |
| It is thought her political will - to be read out by her 19-year-old son Bilawal - may name her preferred successor. | It is thought her political will - to be read out by her 19-year-old son Bilawal - may name her preferred successor. |
| There has been speculation that this could be Bilawal himself, or Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari. Another possible contender is the party's long-time vice-chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim. | There has been speculation that this could be Bilawal himself, or Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari. Another possible contender is the party's long-time vice-chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim. |
| Campaign suspended | |
| Thousands of Bhutto supporters surrounded the family home ahead of the meeting, venting their anger at the government of President Pervez Musharraf, which they blame for not doing enough to protect her. | |
| Ms Bhutto's widower, Mr Zardari, told the crowd that "Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for Pakistan's survival and democracy. We will continue Bhutto's mission." | |
| The party was also set to decide whether to contest or boycott the elections. | |
| Mr Azim of the ruling party said a delay would allow the PPP more time to re-organise. | |
| "It seems more than likely that elections will be delayed," he said. | |
| He was quoted by the AFP news agency saying that his own party had suspended its campaigning "because of the prevailing situation". | |
| "We do not have a climate in which we can canvass voters," he said. | |
| He said the vote might be delayed for anything between six and 12 weeks. |