Pakistan set for mourning period
Thursday, 27 Dec 2007 17:15
Pervez Musharraf calls for calm after death of Benazir Bhutto
Pakistan In Focus
Pervez Musharraf's resignation leaves a big hole in Pakistani politics – one which analysts expect the west will look to the military to fill. Full Story
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has blamed the death of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on "terrorists" and announced a period of mourning.
Addressing the nation hours after news of Ms Bhutto's death first broke, President Musharraf blamed terrorists and extremists for the attack, which took place in Rawalpindi.
Reports suggest the opposition leader was targeted by a gunman, who struck her in the neck, before a suicide bomber detonated his bomb and set fire to the car in which Ms Bhutto was leaving an election rally.
President Musharraf said a three-day period of mourning would begin immediately and that all flags would be flown at half mast as a mark of respect.
He called for calm so that "the nefarious designs of terrorists can be defeated" and urged the Pakistani people "to keep up the fight against terrorists until the roots of extremism are extirpated".
Hundreds of Ms Bhutto's supporters have taken to the streets across Pakistan to protest her death, many blaming President Musharraf
The Pakistani ambassador to the United States Mahmud Ali Durrani said he was unsure whether the elections, scheduled for early next month, would be cancelled or not.
But he added: "To the best of my knowledge, the election will continue."