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Bhutto assassination

World leaders condemn Bhutto killing

Thursday, December 27, 2007

World leaders have spoken out against the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, with United States, India, Russia, France, Great Britain and the Vatican condemning the attack as 'abominable.'

Thursday, December 27, 2007

By  Reuters

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - World leaders voiced outrage at
the assassination on Thursday of Pakistan's opposition leader
Benazir Bhutto and expressed fears for the fate of the
nuclear-armed state.
 
U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the killing as a
"cowardly act" and urged Pakistanis to press ahead with a
planned national election. Russia's top Asia diplomat said the
assassination would "trigger a wave of terrorism".
 
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Bhutto had risked
everything to try and bring democracy to her country, of which
Britain used to be the colonial ruler.
 
"The terrorists must not be allowed to kill democracy in
Pakistan," he said.
 
Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack as she left a
rally ahead of an election due on Jan. 8. The identity of the
attacker was not immediately clear, but Islamist militants have
been blamed for a previous assassination bid.
 
"The subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked
for democracy and reconciliation in her country," said Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh of India, Pakistan's giant neighbour and
nuclear rival.
 
"The manner of her going is a reminder of the common dangers
that our region faces from cowardly acts of terrorism and of the
need to eradicate this dangerous threat."
 
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the killing odious.
 
"France, like the European Union, is particularly attached
to stability and democracy in Pakistan," he said in a letter to
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf.
 

 
FEAR
 
Pakistan was already a big global worry.
 
The U.S. ally has been struggling to contain Islamist
violence while Musharraf, whose popularity has slumped, only
lifted a state of emergency on Dec. 15 after six weeks.
 
Bush urged Pakistanis to honour Bhutto's memory by
continuing with the democratic process and said those behind the
attack must be brought to justice.
 
"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by
murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's
democracy," he told reporters at his Texas ranch.
 
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the assassination
was a "heinous crime" and an "assault on stability" in Pakistan.
The U.N. Security Council began consultations on the killing.
 
Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Union's
executive arm, the European Commission, said it was "an attack
against democracy and against Pakistan".
 
Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto, 54, as
she left the rally in a park in the city of Rawalpindi before
blowing himself up. Police said 16 people died in the blast.
 
"It is a criminal act and is strongly condemned," Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state
television in Pakistan's neighbour. "What Pakistan strongly
needs now is calmness and the return of stability."
 
A Vatican spokesman said Pope Benedict had been informed,
adding:
 
"It is difficult to see any glimmer of hope, peace,
reconciliation in this country."
 
[4] reactions :

  • Thursday, December 27, 2007

    shame for all people

    By  xclnci

    Why killing innocent people 15 people who died .... they were having their family why non one thinks of parents, childrens Request to all people STOP DOING all this because you get life just once so enjoy it the way you like but stop killing stop suicide bombing

  • Thursday, December 27, 2007

    Butho has been killed

    By  Yedaly

    She was a very stong woman, she has led the opposition against the injustice and tyranie..

  • Thursday, December 27, 2007

    Benazir Bhutto

    By  Bradford Kellogg

    The tragedy that is Pakistan has extinguished one of the lights that burned bright in the crushing darkness. The nightmare continues. But ideas, hopes and dreams do not succumb to bullets and bombs. They can never kill what Benazir Bhutto represents.

  • Thursday, December 27, 2007

    benazir

    By  azman

    this is totally insane and unacceptable. as a leader who wants to bring unity and stability to pakistan, the reaction from some of the present or past govt. supporters whoever they are is totally ridiculous. may her soul rest in peace as what she has been hoping to bring to pakistan.

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Images

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto at a rally, just moments before to her assassination.

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto at a rally, just moments before to her assassination.

Images

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto at a rally, just moments before to her assassination.

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto at a rally, just moments before to her assassination.

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