Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Pakistan's Bhutto killed in attack

By SADAQAT JAN and ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press Writers
3 minutes ago



RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at the end of a campaign rally, aides said.

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"The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred," Bhutto's lawyer Babar Awan said.

A party security adviser said Bhutto was shot in neck and chest as she got into her vehicle to leave the rally in Rawalpindi near the capital Islamabad. A gunman then blew himself up.

"At 6:16 p.m. she expired," said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was taken after the attack.

Her supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog," referring to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf.

Some smashed the glass door at the main entrance of the emergency unit, others burst into tears. One man with a flag of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party tied around his head was beating his chest.

In Washington, the State Department said it was seeking confirmation of Bhutto's condition.

"Certainly, we condemn the attack on this rally," deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. "It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy."

The United States has for months been encouraging Musharraf to reach an accommodation with the opposition, particularly Bhutto, who was seen as having a wide base of support in Pakistan. Her party had been widely expected to do well in parliamentary elections set for next month.

At least 20 others were killed in the blast that took place as Bhutto left the rally where she addressed thousands of supporters in her campaign for Jan. 8 parliamentary elections.

Bhutto served twice as Pakistan's prime minister between 1988 and 1996. She had returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile Oct. 18.

On the same day, her homecoming parade in Karachi was also targeted by a suicide attacker, killing more than 140 people. On that occasion she narrowly escaped injury.
Pakistan's Bhutto assassinated in attack - Yahoo! News

[DBII]

I read about it a few minutes ago. Things could get messy.

DBII

[ccheese]

How to supress the opposition 101. A real shame.

Charles

[mkloby]

Pakistan is similar to Saudi Arabia in that both states have governments that are friendly (to varying degrees and also merely superficial at times) toward the US, but have large populaces that are hostile toward America...

[syscom3]

I bet the Indian govt is shaking its heads in amazement wondering whats going to happen next.

[Lucky13]

And they're probably not the only ones...

[FLYBOYJ]

My ex-brother-in-law is half Indian. His dad (who is from India) hates the "Pakis," considers them barbaric!!!!!

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

You know Musharef had his hands in this.

[Gnomey]

No real surprise it has happened as it has been talked about happening for a while. Looks like an Al Qaeda attack to me (or at least definitely extremists). The country is going to sh*t.

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

You know Musharef had his hands in this.

What benefit will it have for him, he has also had assassination attempts on him recently.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Gnomey

What benefit will it have for him, he has also had assassination attempts on him recently.

She was his major oposition and had a large amount of the country as her support. She had a good chance of taking his place.

He feared her. He only allowed her to return from exile because he thought it would make him look stronger. It backfired in his face.

[Gnomey]

True but the way this is going it is looking like the extremists are trying to make inroads into the system and disrupt it however would of won the election. The future is unlikely to be plain sailing for Pakistan.

[bookman_reader]

I don't think Musharef would be stupid enough to have a hand in this. As has been reported, the Senior Army Officers are very Pro-Western, but, there is a lot of doubt as to where the loyalties of a lot of the Junior Officer Cadre are. You also must take into account the radical Moslem groups as well as the Taliban, and "friends", who will do anything they can to stop any form of democracy in any Moslem country.
I think Bhutto could have helped Pakistan, now it will be up to Sharif, provided Musharef lets the elections go ahead.
Lets just hope that the lid doesn't blow off!

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Gnomey

The future is unlikely to be plain sailing for Pakistan.

Aint that the truth.

I think Pakistan could certainly be one of the most volitile places on the planet at the momen. The real scary thing is that they have nuclear weapons.

[Henk]

A great shame indeed that she were killed, I hoped she would not get killed, but when it is your time it is your time.

[syscom3]

I thought Islam is a religion of peace and non-violence.