Benezir Bhutto Dies in Attack!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Breaking News on both CNN.com and NYTimes.com!!!

Apparently during a suicide bombing she was shot in the neck!

[LotC]

NOOOOOOO!!!!

She was my #14 pick in the dead pool.

[Cort Haus]

[Imran Siddiqui]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/pakistan.sharif/index.html

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide attack, according to media reports.

Geo TV quoted her husband saying the politician had died following a bullet wound in the neck.

The suicide attack left at least 14 dead and 40 injured, Tariq Azim Khan, the country's former information minister, told CNN in a telephone interview.

The attacker is said to have detonated a bomb as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

Bhutto is said to have been leaving the rally when the attack occurred and was taken to a hospital in an unconcious state, the Geo TV report said.

Earlier, a spokesman for Bhutto told CNN she was safe and taken away from the scene.

Video from the scene of the blast broadcast from Geo TV showed wounded people being loaded into ambulances.

Up to 20 people are dead, the report said.

Earlier, four supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Friday, local police said.

Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police added.

While President Pervez Musharraf has promised free and fair parliamentary elections next month, continued instability in the tribal areas and the threat of attack on large crowds has kept people from attending political rallies and dampened the country's political process.

Campaigners from various political groups say fewer people are coming out to show their support due to government crackdowns and the threat of violence.

At least 136 people were killed and more than 387 wounded on October 18 when a suicide bomber attacked Bhutto's slow-moving motorcade. The former PM returned to the country after eight years of self-imposed exile to a massive show of support in the southern port city of Karachi.

Bhutto called it "an attack on democracy" and vowed it would not deter her political campaign.

Today's violence come less than two weeks ahead of January parliamentary elections and as many days after President Pervez Musharraf lifted a six-week-old state of emergency he said was necessary to ensure the country's stability.

Critics said Musharraf's political maneuvering was meant to stifle the country's judiciary as well as curb the media and opposition groups to secure more power.

[SlowwHand]

Well, that sucks.

[PLATO]

Oh crap. That is just what Pakistan didn't need.

[Lorizael]

One thing I like about the US is, at least we don't usually kill our political candidates.

[lord of the mark]

for Mrs Bhutto.




for the people of Pakistan



for the region and the world.

[TheStinger]

Ok then,

who did it- wild speculation only please

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


for Mrs Bhutto.




for the people of Pakistan



for the region and the world.

The upcoming elections are looking really scary right now. Sharif can't run (his party can, though, of course), Bhutto is dead, and Musharraf is hated.

[Zoid]

Ughh, way to go extremists...

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Lorizael
One thing I like about the US is, at least we don't usually kill our political candidates.

Quite, you usually kill the guy in charge rather than the candidate.

[SlowwHand]

"Dog, Musharraf, dog!"


Yeah, I'd say some people hate him.

[ruardean]

I thought she was a reasonable voice for Pakistan.
Could have been a true leader of the people.
It is a real tragedy

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Ok then,

who did it- wild speculation only please

Either A. one of the Islamist elements (AQ, Taliban, or anti-Musharraf elements of the ISI)
or B. Musharaf and pro-Musharaf elements of Pakistani security

If the latter, a huge mistake. I dont think Musharaf will survive this.