US condemns attack on Pakistan's Bhutto

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush condemned the assassination on Thursday of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

"We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said, adding that Bush would make a statement on the killing at 11 a.m. EST.

Bush, who is spending the holidays at his Texas ranch, was informed about the reports during a regular morning briefing, Stanzel said.

Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday.

A party official said Bhutto, 54, died in the hospital. Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.

"The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development," a U.S. State Department official said.

The U.S. official said the State Department had seen the reports of the attack but had not yet confirmed the details.