World condemns Bhutto killing

29 December 2007
Report: Soodh

The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto late Thursday evening shocked the world. Condemnation of the assassination was swift and strong and came from across the globe. World leaders were quick to condemn the extremist and murderous action and have called on the Pakistani government for a full investigation. Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

Condemning the attack, US President George W. Bush said that "The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists," and called upon the Pakistani government to bring those who have committed this crime to justice.

Obama, US Democratic Presidential contender said that he was “shocked and saddened by the death of Benazir Bhutto in this terrorist atrocity. She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world”.

But Hillary Clinton, US Democratic Presidential contender suggested that Pakistani security forces or military might have been involved and called for an independent, international investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General strongly condemned the attack and called for “perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible."

"This was a cowardly terrorist act designed to destabilize democratic elections...” British PM Gordon Brown said. The British government strongly condemned this act.

India said that the assassination of Bhutto was sad news for them and said that this would cause obstacles in democracy.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, condemning the attack said that “the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country."

The Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi described Bhutto as “a woman who wanted to fight her battle until the end with just one weapon - that of dialogue and political discussion." He condemned the act in strongest of words.

The Vatican called the assassination "terrible and tragic."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned in the strongest possible terms and called it a heinous act of terrorism.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday that China was shocked at the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf has appealed for peace in Pakistan following the assassination of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

A report on state-run PTV said that Musharraf appealed to the nation to keep calm "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated."

Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani opposition leader, vowed to continue Bhutto's work after the assassination and said he shared the grief of "the entire nation".

Speaking outside the hospital where Bhutto died he said: "I assure you that I will fight your war from now on," he told Bhutto's supporters. "I share your sorrow and grief along with the entire nation."

"Benazir Bhutto was also my sister, and I will be with you to take the revenge for her death," he said.

The Pakistani government has said it has evidence al-Qaeda was responsible was for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Javed Cheema, Pakistani interior ministry spokesman, said security forces had intercepted a phone call from an al-Qaeda leader in Pakistan after Bhutto's death on Thursday.

"We have intelligence intercepts indicating that al Qaeda leader Baitullah Mehsud is behind her assassination," Cheema said.

Violence continued to grip Pakistan following Bhutto's funeral in the southern province of Sindh, with the death toll from disturbances across the country rising to 31.