Benazir Bhutto waving to supporters as she leaves a Rawalpindi election rally Thursday, moments before she was assassinated in gun and suicide bomb attack. (Reuters)
U.S. President George W. Bush strongly condemned Thursday the assassination on Thursday of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, urging her killers be brought to justice.
"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice," Bush said in a statement to reporters at his Texas ranch.
"We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life," he continued.
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Bush spoke with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday afternoon, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. He did not have any details about what they said.
Earlier, a State Department official said "the attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan."
President Shimon Peres said following the assassination that he was "shocked" by the news, calling Bhutto a "courageous woman."
UN Security Council holds urgent meeting, urges restraint
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed shock and outrage at the slaying, calling it an "assault on stability" in Pakistan.
"I strongly condemn this heinous crime and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible," Ban said in a statement.
The UN Security Council later held an urgent meeting on the killing, drafting a formal statement read by current council president, Italian Ambassador Marcello Spatafora.
"The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist suicide attack by extremists," said the statement. "The Security Council pays tribute to former prime minister Bhutto. The Security Council calls on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country."
The statement by the 15-nation council called for the "perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism" to be brought to justice.
Israel's UN envoy Dan Gillerman told Haaretz that he met with Bhutto and her husband three months ago in New York for some three hours. Gillerman said Bhutto expressed her desire to normalize relations between Pakistan and Israel, and said she "wanted to see friendly relations between Pakistan and Israel."
A top Russian diplomat was quoted as saying Thursday that Bhutto's assassination could trigger a wave of terror in the country.
"An act of terror is a bad sign," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, Russia's most senior Asia diplomat, told Itar-Tass news agency. "We hereby offer our condolences. This will for certain trigger a wave of terrorism.
India: Assassination is a blow to the democratic process
India, Pakistan's chief rival, called the assassination a tragedy and a terrible blow to the democratic process.
"In her death the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country," said Sanjaya Baru, spokesman for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"It is equally sad that this happened when the people of Pakistan were looking up to her," junior Indian foreign minister Anand Sharma told the NDTV news channel.
"It is a terrible blow to the democratic process, and no words are adequate to condemn this abominable act," he said. "We offer our condolences to her bereaved family members but also to her friends and supporters at this hour of their grief."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also condemned the assassination, praising Bhutto's campaign to bring democracy to Pakistan.
"She risked everything in an attempt to win democracy for Pakistan, and was assassinated by cowards who are afraid of democracy," he said.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Miliband voiced shock at the killing and called for restraint.
"In targeting Benazir Bhutto, extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan. They cannot and must not succeed," he said in a statement. "This is a time for restraint but also unity."
In France, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner issued a statement firmly condemning what he called "this odious act".
"He pays homage to the memory of Ms Bhutto, an eminent figure in Pakistani political life," the ministry statement said.
"He reaffirms our country's commitment to Pakistan's stability and its democracy, which must be at the center of attention of the entire international community."
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