Bhutto Killed

A day after Bhutto, 54, was killed in a gun and bomb attack after an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi, world leaders voiced outrage but urged the country to exercise calm and stick to the path of democracy.

In a letter to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, French leader Nicolas Sarkozy called the attack an "odious act" and said "terrorism and violence have no place in the democratic debate and the combat of ideas and programs."

The UN Security Council emerged from an emergency session on the killing with a statement condemning "this heinous act of
terrorism."

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi condemned the "fanaticism" that caused it and Spain spoke of a "frontal attack on Pakistani democracy."

In a statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the "cowardly act underscored the need to continue the fight against terrorism and support those who suffer its consequences."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the death of Bhutto was a "severe blow" to everyone in Pakistan who is fighting for democracy.

He appealed to those in power to make a contribution to the stability of Pakistan and ensure that next month's elections are free and fair.

Bhutto killed after election rally

Benazir Bhutto, a two-time former prime minister, was killed in a suicide bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi. Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.

Bhutto died in hospital in Rawalpindi. Police said 15 people had been killed in the blast.

President Pervez Mushaffaf has declared three days of national mourning. Pakistani television network ARY said Friday that al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for Bhutto's assassination.

Leaders Respond

News of the assassination has sparked condemnation and dismay among world leaders including President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and US President George W. Bush.

In a statement released in Brussels, Barroso said the European Commission "condemns this callous terrorist attack, perpetrated less than two weeks ahead of election day, in the strongest terms. This is an attack against democracy and against Pakistan."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who had met with Bhutto just hours before Thursday's assassination, described the assassination as an "act of cowardice and immense brutality."

"[Bhutto] sacrificed her life for the sake of Pakistan and for the sake of the region," Karzai told a news briefing called in reaction to the assassination.

US President Bush called on Pakistanis to continue on the road towards democracy.

"The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," Bush told reporters hours after the assassination. "We stand with the people of Pakistan in that struggle against the forces of terror and extremism."

Pakistan's President Musharraf appealed to the nation to remain peaceful "so that the evil designs of terrorists can be defeated," state TV said.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "deeply shocked" by the death of Benazir and called for "restraint but also unity."

"In targeting Benazir Bhutto extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan," he said in a statement. "They cannot and must not succeed."

Rioting leads to more deaths

According to reports, at least four people have been shot as riots have broken out in cities around Pakistan after news of the assassination spread.

Bhutto's slaying triggered a wave of violence, especially in her
native Sindh province. At least four people were killed on Thursday night in Karachi, capital of Sindh, as news of her death sent thousands of angry supporters pouring into the streets. On Friday unidentified gunmen shot dead a policeman and wounded three.

It was the second suicide attack targeting Bhutto since she
returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October. The
first killed 139 people.