Int'l community condemns murder of Bhutto, calls for calm in Pakistan

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The international community on Thursday condemned the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and called for calm and restraint in Pakistan.

Bhutto, 54, was killed Thursday evening in a suicide bombing attack during her election rally at the Liaquat Bagh park in Rawalpindi, some 30 km south of the Pakistani capital Islamabad. At least 20 people were killed in the attack.

The UN Security Council strongly condemned the assassination. The Council held an emergency meeting and issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack "in the strongest terms."

It also called on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for the perpetrators tobe brought to justice as soon as possible.

U.S. President George W. Bush, strongly condemning the murder, telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation the wake of the assassination.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Amin Fahimm, the new leader of Bhutto's political party, to voice U. S. support for Pakistan's upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan.8.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said: "We would urge calm and hope that all the Pakistanis would mourn her death, celebrate her life and unite together."

Unrest broke out in several areas of Pakistan and at least two people were killed in violence stirred up by Bhutto's assassination.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to Musharraf, expressing the hope that those responsible for Bhutto's death would be found and punished.

"We hope the masterminds of that crime will be found and will face deserved punishment," Putin said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged "all responsible forces in Pakistan" to "show maximum self-control," and to ignore extremist provocations.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the murder and said it was "a sad day" for political freedom and democracy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with "shock" to the killing, saying the "cowardly act" underscored the need to continue the fight against terrorism and support those who suffered its consequences.

Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said: "I urge the government and people of Pakistan to continue to reject all forms of violence and to resist those who seek to destabilize their country."

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said: "The sacrifice of ex-premier Bhutto must be the strongest example for those who won't give in to terrorism."

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa strongly condemned the killing of Bhutto and expressed shock at such "heinous terrorist crime."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit also condemned the bomb attack against Bhutto, saying it was important for the Pakistani factions to stand side by side against radicalism and terrorism.

Jordan's King Abdullah II expressed Jordan's support for Pakistan to overcome the consequences of the incident.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the assassination and hoped those who committed this crime would be brought to justice.

Iran also voiced its strong condemnation, saying the "terrorist and criminal act" was aimed at disrupting calm in neighboring countries and the whole Muslim world.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the killing and expressed deep condolences to Bhutto's family and the whole Pakistan.

In Africa, the South African government appealed to all political parties in Pakistan and the Pakistani people to remain calm during this very turbulent period in its history.

Nigeria's Senate President David Mark condemned the assassination and said it was an unexpected action in a democratic setting.

The governments of many other countries including Albania, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, the Czech Republic, Nepal, Singapore, Israel and Syria also expressed their condemnation of the murder.

Thursday's suicide attack was the second one against Bhutto since she returned home in October from eight years in exile. The first struck a welcome-home rally in Karachi, the biggest Pakistani city, just after her return, killing 139 people.

Bhutto was sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan in December 1988, becoming the first woman to head that country. But her government was dismissed in 1990 amid corruption allegations. Bhutto's father, also a prime minister, was hanged by the military in 1979.

Re-elected in 1993, she was thrown out again three years later on further graft charges. She went into exile in April 1999.