Pakistan was plunged into chaos today after the assassination of Benazir
Bhutto, the popular opposition leader, just 13 days before a general
election that she was well placed to win.
A suicide bomber shot at Ms Bhutto, 54, and then blew himself up next to her
car as she left a rally in Rawalpindi. She was rushed to hospital but
declared dead at 6.16pm local time.
News of her death sparked riots across the country, with crowds setting fires,
burning cars and blocking roads. At least nine people were reported to have
been killed and Pakistanâ??s security forces were put on the highest state of
alert.
The most likely culprits are Islamic militants opposed to Ms Bhuttoâ??s
pro-western stance, but public anger was also directed at PresidentPervez
Musharraf and the security services who failed to protect her. Rawalpindi is
the headquarters of Pakistanâ??s army.
Mr Musharraf blamed terrorists and appealed for calm, but did not say whether
the elections planned for January 8, which were was supposed to put Pakistan
back on the road to democracy, would proceed or not.
