Benazir Bhutto killed in attack

[Jojo]

Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack.

Ms Bhutto - the first woman PM in an Islamic state - was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi when a gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb.

At least 20 other people died in the attack and several more were injured.

President Pervez Musharraf has urged people to remain calm but angry protests have gripped some cities, with at least 11 deaths reported.

Security forces have been placed on a state of "red alert" nationwide.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. Analysts believe Islamist militants to be the most likely group behind it.

Ms Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), had served as prime minister from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996, and had been campaigning ahead of elections due on 8 January.

Benazir Bhutto's coffin has now been taken from the hospital

It was the second suicide attack against her in recent months and came amid a wave of bombings targeting security and government officials.

Nawaz Sharif, also a former prime minister and a political rival, announced his Muslim League party would boycott the elections.

He called on President Musharraf to resign, saying free and fair elections were not possible under his rule.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session and later said it "unanimously condemned" the assassination.

Scene of grief

Ms Bhutto's coffin was removed from hospital in Rawalpindi and has now arrived by plane in Sukkur in Sindh province for burial in her home town, Larkana.

Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, has arrived in Pakistan from Dubai to escort the coffin to its final resting-place.

The attack occurred close to an entrance gate of the city park where Ms Bhutto had been speaking.

Police confirmed reports Ms Bhutto had been shot in the neck and chest before the gunman blew himself up.

She died at 1816 (1316 GMT), said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of the PPP who was at hospital.

Some supporters at the hospital wept while others broke into anger, throwing stones at cars and breaking windows.

Protests erupted in other cities as news of the assassination spread, with reports of 11 deaths in the PPP's heartland province of Sindh, including four in provincial capital, Karachi.

More than 100 cars were burned in Karachi, while cars and a train were reportedly set on fire in Hyderabad.

[Abigail]

Apparantly she had already had several death threats for opening backing Bush's war on Iraq. Its a shame that people in that part of the world can't express their own opinion without being killed or injured.

The price of gold and oil has gone up which will probably mean another hike in fuel prices.

The funeral has already been held.

[Chloe O'brien]

As much as this is a shock. It really isn't a surprise. Since her return from exile there has been a number of organisations trying to silence her and someone has been sucsessful.

[Katy]

It said she knew as soon as she as she got back she was at risk of assassination. It is still terrible though. I dread to think what effect this will have on the rest of the election and the democraticy of the country. It must be terrible for her family and children though.

Was her father assassinated as well or was he executed? I know there was a brother who was killed as well. I am just unsure on the father. s

[Abi]

As much as this is a shock. It really isn't a surprise. Since her return from exile there has been a number of organisations trying to silence her and someone has been sucsessful.

I agree. It was pretty inevitable that it would happen at some point, it was more of a case of when, not if, i think.

Her father was executed, i think.

[Meh]

Most of the leaders that have ever been in charge of Pakistan have syphoned off millions into their personal bank accounts. Most parts are pretty lawless with corruption rife. Bhutto certainly was part of the regime that helped Pakistan become one of the most corrupt countries in the world, but she didn't deserve to die.

[JustJodi]

I agree with you Rimmer about the corruption part and Ms Bhutto being assinated,, she did not deserve to die.
Sadly this is how some groups figure it is a way to solve their problems, kill the leader and silence them, to avoid any change or whatever reason the killer had to KILL ..:mad:

I also read that they are planning to exhume the body because they did not do a PM ???

[Abigail]

I also read that they are planning to exhume the body because they did not do a PM ???

The government are saying she died from a head injury sustained when she hit her head on the roof of the car after the explosion. Her party claim that she was shot in the head and there are bullet wounds to prove it.

I thought the funeral was held a bit quick, she died one day and was buried the next.

[Meh]

I also read that they are planning to exhume the body because they did not do a PM ???

The government are saying she died from a head injury sustained when she hit her head on the roof of the car after the explosion. Her party claim that she was shot in the head and there are bullet wounds to prove it.

I thought the funeral was held a bit quick, she died one day and was buried the next.

All islamic funerals are held ASAP. In some muslim countries you can die at 12pm, and be buried by 1pm!

[Siobhan]

I thought the funeral was held a bit quick, she died one day and was buried the next.

In Ireland, all funerals are over in 3 days so it is not that quick..

[Jojo]

.....
I thought the funeral was held a bit quick, she died one day and was buried the next.

Look at the case of Dodi Al Fayed, when he and Diana died - his funeral was held within 24 hours of the accident (if memory serves right, though its getting on a bit now, so can't be sure lol)

[Perdita]

I also read that they are planning to exhume the body because they did not do a PM ???

The government are saying she died from a head injury sustained when she hit her head on the roof of the car after the explosion. Her party claim that she was shot in the head and there are bullet wounds to prove it.

I thought the funeral was held a bit quick, she died one day and was buried the next.

All islamic funerals are held ASAP. In some muslim countries you can die at 12pm, and be buried by 1pm!


I think this is because of the heat. Does not allow for autopsies though, so nobody will ever know what exactly killed her.