Terrorism | 27.12.2007 /d.welle
Pakistani Opposition Leader Bhutto Killed in Suicide Attack
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi.
The President of the European Union's executive Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, condemned as "a callous terrorist attack" Thursday's assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
In a statement released in Brussels, Barroso said the commission "condemns this callous terrorist attack, perpetrated less than two weeks ahead of election day, in the strongest terms. This is an attack against democracy and against Pakistan."
Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi.
Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.
Leaders Respond
News of the assassination has evoked condemnation from world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US President George W. Bush.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with "shock and horror" to the killing of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at an election rally on Thursday.
In a statement, Merkel said the "cowardly act underscored the need to continue the fight against terrorism and support those who suffer its consequences."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai had met with Bhutto just hours before Thursday's assassination.
"We in Afghanistan condemn this act of cowardice and immense brutality in the strongest possible terms," Karzai told a news briefing called in reaction to the assassination.
"She sacrificed her life for the sake of Pakistan and for the sake of the region," he said.
President Bush has also condemned the attack and called on Pakistanis to continue on the road towards democracy.
"The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," Bush told reporters hours after the assassination.
"We stand with the people of Pakistan in that struggle against the forces of terror and extremism," added Bush, who a spokesman added will be calling Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf later in the day.
Appeal to the nation
President Musharraf appealed to the nation to remain peaceful "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated," state TV said.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "deeply shocked" by the death of Benazir and called for "restraint but also unity."
"In targeting Benazir Bhutto extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan," he said in a statement. "They cannot and must not succeed."
Bhutto, 54, died in hospital in Rawalpindi. Police said 16 people had been killed in the blast.
Rioting leads to more deaths
According to reports, at least four people have been shot as riots have broken out in cities around Pakistan after news of the assassination spread.
In the eastern city of Lahore, shops, buses and cars were set on fire and two people have been killed, a police officer in the city told AFP.
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