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Pakistan has announced three days of mourning after opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was shot dead at a political rally.The gunman then detonated a bomb, killing at least 15 of her supporters. Many more were injured in the suicide blast.Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "She has been assassinated by cowards afraid of democracy. This attack strengthens our resolve that terrorists will not win."It is not known who killed the 54-year-old and her supporters, and no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.Ms Bhutto, 54, was shot in the chest and neck as she got into her car after her speech to thousands in Rawalpindi.The former prime minister was unconscious as she was taken to Rawalpindi General Hospital and died soon after.
"She has been martyred," said Rehman Malik, a spokesman for her party.Some of her supporters smashed windows and doors at the hospital, chanting: "Dog, Musharraf, Dog."It is the first major attack since President General Pervez Musharraf lifted emergency rule two weeks ago.He has appealed for calm in the country and declared three days of mourning.Sky News Asia correspondent Alex Crawford said the country's January 8 elections would now "most likely be postponed or cancelled".Rehman Malik, Ms Bhutto's security advisor, said: "We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests".But Pakistan's ambassador in the US rejected accusations that more could have been done to protect her.He added: "The attack will only improve the Pakistan people's resolve to fight extremism."He also said President Musharraf has spoken to Britain's PM about the assassination.Shabbas Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said: "I'm shellshocked. It's very bad for this country. Whoever has done this has done the biggest disservice to Pakistan.""The government must resign, Musharaf must go home, they must hold a very transparent inquiry into Benazir's killing."US President George Bush is expected to make an announcement about the assassination later.A spokesman for the White House said: "We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan".
"She has been martyred," said Rehman Malik, a spokesman for her party.Some of her supporters smashed windows and doors at the hospital, chanting: "Dog, Musharraf, Dog."It is the first major attack since President General Pervez Musharraf lifted emergency rule two weeks ago.He has appealed for calm in the country and declared three days of mourning.Sky News Asia correspondent Alex Crawford said the country's January 8 elections would now "most likely be postponed or cancelled".Rehman Malik, Ms Bhutto's security advisor, said: "We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests".But Pakistan's ambassador in the US rejected accusations that more could have been done to protect her.He added: "The attack will only improve the Pakistan people's resolve to fight extremism."He also said President Musharraf has spoken to Britain's PM about the assassination.Shabbas Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said: "I'm shellshocked. It's very bad for this country. Whoever has done this has done the biggest disservice to Pakistan.""The government must resign, Musharaf must go home, they must hold a very transparent inquiry into Benazir's killing."US President George Bush is expected to make an announcement about the assassination later.A spokesman for the White House said: "We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan".
As in the days of Noah....
