After multiple attempts on her life, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated after speaking to a large gathering of her supporters at an election rally in Rawalpindi. The killer, a suicide bomber, was riding on a motorcycle, and shot Bhutto in her neck and chest and then blew himself up near by Bhutto's heavily guarded vehicle. Bhutto was rushed to the hospital, but was soon pronounced dead (time of death is stated as 1:16pm GMT). The suicide bomb not only killed Bhutto, but at least 22 other people.
Word of her assassination has caused riots in the streets. President Pervez Musharraf has spoken out against the killing and is pleading with the nation to remain calm. He has declared 3-days of mourning in Bhutto's honour.
Benazir Bhutto was the first democratically elected female Prime Minister of any Islamic nation and lead Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and 1993-1996. She attended Oxford and Harvard Universities. Bhutto had recently returned to Pakistan, after a self-imposed 8-year exile, and was actively campaigning before the January 2008 elections. The day she returned to Pakistan, she escaped a terrorist attack on her motorcade which killed 136 people. Bhutto was vocal in her criticism at the time of Musharraf's government and their lack of effort in protecting her.
Today, she was assassinated in Rawalpindi, a stronghold of Pakistan's military, and a city considered to be one of the country's most secure areas. Musharraf blamed the killing on the same extremists that Pakistan has been fighting a war against. Security forces have been placed on a state of red alert across the country.
Instability in Pakistan would adversely affect the war on terror. Key leaders in Pakistan and across the world are condemning this current atrocity and have been encouraging peaceful reactions in the nation. People are being urged to defy the terrorists' agenda and to instead continue to uphold the goal of democracy.
Other effects of the assassination are yet to be seen. One example, is the impact on the price of oil, which has spiked significantly since news of Bhutto's death.
This is a sad moment for Pakistan. A disappointing act has removed a great and courageous leader from the world. May God bless Pakistan and guide them towards a peaceful resolution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
Source: CNN, BBC News
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