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A bus is engulfed in flames after it was set alight by rioters in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Thursday. (Reuters)
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At least 15 dead in Pakistan unrest in wake of Benazir Bhutto assassination
By News Agencies
Tags: Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto 

At least 15 people were killed as rioting engulfed Pakistan on Thursday hours after opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack at an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi.

State media and her party confirmed her death. "She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik.

"It is the act of those who want to disintegrate Pakistan because she was a symbol of unity. They have finished the Bhutto family. They are enemies of Pakistan," senior Bhutto party official Farzana Raja told Reuters.
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Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up. "The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said police officer Mohammad Shahid.

According to police at least an additional 16 people were killed in the blast, which occurred during campaigning for a January 8 national election. It is unclear if the poll will now go ahead.

"She was inside the vehicle and was coming out from the gate after addressing the rally when some of the youths started chanting slogans in her favor," said Sardar Qamar Hayyat, a leader from Bhutto's party who was about 10 yards away. "Then I saw a smiling Bhutto emerging from the vehicle's roof and responding to their slogans."

"Then I saw a thin, young man jumping toward her vehicle from the back and opening fire. Moments later, I saw her speeding vehicle going away. That was the time when I heard a blast and fell down," Hayyat said.

An FBI spokesman in Washington said the agency was trying to determine the validity of a purported claim of responsibility for the attack by al-Qaida.

Bhutto was rushed to the hospital and taken into emergency surgery. A doctor on the team that attended to Bhutto said she had a bullet in the back of the neck that damaged her spinal cord before exiting from the side of her head.

Another bullet pierced the back of her shoulder and came out through her chest, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. She was given an open heart massage, but the main cause of death was damage to her spinal cord, he said.

Hours after her death, Bhutto's body was carried out of the hospital in a plain wooden coffin by a crowd of supporters.

Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and their three children arrived in Islamabad early on Friday from Dubai to accompany her body on its final flight to her ancestral home for burial.

According to Islamic tradition, funerals should be held as quickly as possible. Party officials said they expected the funeral would be held on Friday.

Party officials said Bhutto would be buried in her native village of Garhi Khuda Baksh, in Larkana district, in her family graveyard next to her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Bhutto supporters react angrily to news of her death

News of Bhutto's death brought a swift and angry reaction from supporters in her native province of Sindh and its capital, Karachi, where fires were set, shots fired and stones thrown. Disturbances quickly spread throughout much of Pakistan.

"Police in Sindh have been put on red alert," said a senior police official. "We have increased deployment and are patrolling in all the towns and cities, as there is trouble almost everywhere."

In Karachi, shop owners quickly closed their businesses as protesters set tires on fire on the roads, torched several vehicles and burned a gas station, said Fayyaz Leghri, a local police official. Gunmen shot and wounded two police officers, he said.

Around 100 vehicles were set on fire, according to several Pakistani-based television stations. "The entire city is on fire," said local resident Khuda Baksh.

Five people were killed and three injured during unrest in three districts of Karachi, where Bhutto had survived a suicide bombing on her return home from exile two months ago that killed more than 140 people.

All land routes linking the city with the rest of the country were blocked after Pakistan Railways officials suspended service. Mobs had ransacked several railway stations and set a train on fire. Roads in and out of the city had already been blocked by the mobs.

Paramilitary troops were patrolling in Sindh province's Sukkur district, where more than 500 vehicles and motorbikes were set ablaze. Six people died during the unrest in the nearby district of Kherpur and four more died in other parts of the province.

Violence also broke out in Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and many other parts of Pakistan, where Bhutto's supporters burned banks, state-run grocery stores and private shops. Some set fire to election offices for the ruling party, according to Pakistani media.

Akhtar Zamin, home minister for the southern Sindh province, said authorities would deploy troops to stop violence if needed.

Musharraf condemns attack, declares three days of mourning

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf condemned the assassination as an act of terrorism and declared three days of mourning, during which the government said all schools, commercial centers and banks would remain closed.

"This is the work of those terrorists with whom we are engaged in war," he said in a nationally televised speech. "Today, after this tragic incident, I want to express my firm resolve ... we will not rest until we eliminate these terrorists and root them out."

Earlier, the state news agency quoted the president as condemning "in strongest possible terms the terrorist attack that resulted in the tragic death of Bhutto and many other innocent Pakistanis", the state news agency said.

"The president convened a high-level emergency meeting ... soon after the tragic development."

"He urged the people to stay calm to face this tragedy and grief with a renewed resolve to continue the fight against terror," the APP news agency said.

Nawaz Sharif, himself a former prime minister and opposition leader, said that his party would now boycott the upcoming elections.

"The holding of fair and free elections is not possible in the presence of Pervez Musharraf. After the killing of Benazir Bhutto, I announce that the Pakistan Muslim League-N will boycott the elections," the former prime minister said, referring to his party.

Sharif urged other parties to join the boycott. A collective response, including by Bhutto's own party could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the vote as Musharraf attempts to engineer a transition to democracy after eight years of military rule.

"I demand that Musharraf should quit immediately," he told a news conference. "Musharraf is the cause of all the problems. The federation of Pakistan cannot remain in tact in the presence of President Musharraf."

Moments before her death, Bhutto said she put her 'life in danger'

In her speech on Thursday, Bhutto spoke of the risks she faced. "I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis," Bhutto told the rally.

Some of Bhutto's supporters at the hospital exploded in anger. Others burst into tears. One man with a flag of Pakistan People's Party tied around his head was beating his chest.

"I am in shock. I cannot believe that she is dead," said Tahir Mahmood, 55.

Some at the hospital began chanting, "Killer, Killer, Musharraf." A few began stoning cars outside.

"We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests," said Rehman Malik, Bhutto's security adviser.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, chairman of Bhutto's party, called for a thorough investigation. "The Bhutto family and the party should know who is behind the attack," he said.

Sharif, who joined the mourners at the hospital, refered to Bhutto as his "political sister." "My heart is bleeding and I'm as grieved as you are," Sharif told the crowd.

On international financial markets, gold and government bonds rose while U.S. stock futures fell on Thursday after news of the assassination.

Analysts say the shock of the Bhutto news triggered a classic capital flight to assets which are considered as safe havens in times of geopolitical stress.

Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was Pakistan's first popularly elected prime minister. He was executed in 1979 after being deposed in a military coup.

Bhutto became the first female prime minister in the Muslim world when she was elected in 1988 at the age of 35. She was deposed in 1990, re-elected in 1993, and ousted again in 1996 amid charges of corruption and mismanagement.

She said the charges were politically motivated but in 1999 chose to stay in exile rather than face them.

A suicide bomber killed nearly 150 people in an attack on Bhutto on October 19 as she paraded through the southern city of Karachi on her return from eight years in self-imposed exile.

Islamist militants were blamed for that attack but Bhutto had said she was prepared to face the danger to help the country.

Bhutto's family is no stranger to violence. Both of her brothers died in mysterious circumstances and she had said Al-Qaida assassins tried to kill her several times in the 1990s.

Intelligence reports have said Al-Qaida, the Taliban and Pakistani jihadi groups have sent suicide bombers after her.

Related articles:
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  • Musharraf calls October strike on Bhutto convoy 'plot against democracy'
  • Bhutto prays at father's grave, visits stronghold amid tight security
  • Bhutto vows early return to Pakistan
  • Pakistani police place ex-PM Bhutto under house arrest to halt rally
  • Chronology of attacks in Pakistan since July 2007
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      1.   It`s because of the occupation 15:32  |  SystemF 27/12/07
      2.   My sincere condolences to the good people of Pakistan 15:40  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/12/07
      3.   And Israelis worry about Iranian nuclear ambitions 15:44  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
      4.   She Died 15:45  |  Jeff Northridge 27/12/07
      5.   re: System 15:46  |  Paulo 27/12/07
      6.   A sad day for world democracy 15:54  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 27/12/07
      7.   If we continue this way, there will be only worse to come...... 16:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
      8.   Very sad day for pakistan, democracy and islamic democracy 16:34  |  Rami 27/12/07
      9.   yes a very sad day for democracy 16:37  |  SJ 27/12/07
      10.   Nik 6 You sure it was Islamic extremists? What about Musharraf? 16:50  |  Michael 27/12/07
      11.   Ms Bhutto #9 16:51  |  Yariv 27/12/07
      12.   Swiss.....this will open a whole new can of worms. 17:02  |  Lynn 27/12/07
      13.   # 7 Swiss (Dino) 17:11  |  Natallie Durson 27/12/07
      14.   #6 Nik 17:21  |  Boycott 27/12/07
      15.   #7 Dino 17:22  |  Jon 27/12/07
      16.   MAY GOD HAS MERCY ON HER SOUL 17:34  |  indrajaya 27/12/07
      17.   The way things are done 17:37  |  Avi Yerushalmi 27/12/07
      18.   My condolences 17:38  |  Nadia 27/12/07
      19.   Bhutto, a Martyr for Peace and Democracy 17:39  |  Eyal 27/12/07
      20.   To Avi Yerushalmi 17:42  |  Shlomo 27/12/07
      21.   How sad 17:42  |  Ed 27/12/07
      22.   Michael (second attempt) 17:46  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 27/12/07
      23.   Clickfool # 16- You have established your credentials as a moron! 17:53  |  Martin Luther 27/12/07
      24.   Things are not looking good for Pakistan,and Musharaff must 17:57  |  lakshmi 27/12/07
      25.   Are this is is what? Shocking? 17:59  |  Steve 27/12/07
      26.   #10 & #23 18:08  |  MichaelF 27/12/07
      27.   I don`t think it was Musharaf 18:15  |  Israeli 27/12/07
      28.   it could have been Musharaf or BIn Laden but... 18:30  |  K 27/12/07
      29.   #16 Clickfool in reality is a Mossad agent ? 18:30  |  Marwan مروان خوري 27/12/07
      30.   Conspiracy therories are already spreading like wild fire 18:36  |  Ali 27/12/07
      31.   PUT SOME BETTER PHOTO, HAARETZ ! 18:36  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 27/12/07
      32.   to 24 (ML): re Clickfool 18:38  |  V 27/12/07
      33.   Message # 16 is Cut & Paste Fake Clickfool 18:42  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
      34.   Next on the list the Arab Moderate Leaders. 18:43  |  Akram Zekaria 27/12/07
      35.   Benazir 18:48  |  Martha 27/12/07
      36.   May God have mercy on her soul 18:49  |  Hassan 27/12/07
      37.   #7 Natallie Durson: Let me explain the differences between US .. 18:58  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 27/12/07
      38.   Shlomo #21 19:02  |  Avi Yerushalmi 27/12/07
      39.   #1, SystemF. Say, man... 19:09  |  zmogus 27/12/07
      40.   clickfool, natalie durson, indragaya, lacksmi 19:13  |  hebro 27/12/07
      41.   Bravo, to Marwan no29 19:20  |  Tina 27/12/07
      42.   Musharraf`s hand is forced, probably planned 19:23  |  Homer Von Raven 27/12/07
      43.   For Marwan # 29 19:27  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
      44.   India the Beautiful, Pakistan the Horror 19:29  |  Fred McCann 27/12/07
      45.   What happens when you support Islamic extremists 19:31  |  Bob 27/12/07
      46.   Smells like the work of the dog Bin Laden 19:33  |  Moshe Levin 27/12/07
      47.   islamic terror no surprise 19:45  |  real vision 27/12/07
      48.   My condolences 19:46  |  KUTW 27/12/07
      49.   My condolences to the families 19:48  |  KUTW 27/12/07
      50.   Will there be a UN Investigation Resolution 19:51  |  Someone 27/12/07
      51.   Assassination of Benazir Bhutto 19:51  |  Dik 27/12/07
      52.   #40 Fred: obviously you have never visited India? 19:52  |  Alicia 27/12/07
      53.   Shlomo and Avi 20:01  |  MR 27/12/07
      54.   Bhutto 20:03  |  Joshua 27/12/07
      55.   And where is Rice now? Off to the Middle East I suppose 20:04  |  rob 27/12/07
      56.   The Pakistani dance of Blood 20:06  |  FOX 27/12/07
      57.   yes of course it was islamic militancy 20:08  |  Nerys 27/12/07
      58.   Dino #7 20:15  |  FOX 27/12/07
      59.   #16 Is Adam Gadahn 20:21  |  Yosemite 27/12/07
      60.   # 12 Lynn 20:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
      61.   Bhutto - no place for democracy 20:25  |  Joe 27/12/07
      62.   EYAL 20:29  |  GABE1 27/12/07
      63.   To Fred McCann #44 20:31  |  Rajanikanth 27/12/07
      64.   # 13 Natallie Durson 20:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
      65.   Now you see what Israel has to deal with? 20:38  |  Michael 27/12/07
      66.   Advice for Hebro # 40 20:42  |  Clickfool 27/12/07
      67.   c`mon haaretz 20:46  |  Nemesis 27/12/07
      68.   # 15 Jon "Talk the talk and walk the walk" 20:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07
      69.   Bedlam in Pakistan. 21:01  |  Stephen. 27/12/07
      70.   DINO: IT`S NOT TRAGIC!!!! 21:01  |  Brant 27/12/07
      71.   DINO: IT`S NOT TRAGIC!!!! 21:01  |  Brant 27/12/07
      72.   Shlomo#20 21:04  |  Edifice 27/12/07
      73.   Miss Bhutto 21:04  |  Amir 27/12/07
      74.   # 58 FOX 21:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/12/07