Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto Assassinated at Rally

Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to lead an Islamic nation, was assassinated as she was leaving a rally today. Bhutto served twice as Pakistan's prime minister between 1988 and 1996. The Associated Press is reporting:

Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, aides said.

The death of the 54-year-old charismatic former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections into chaos and created fears of mass protests and violence across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism.

The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islamabad. She was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then blew himself up, said Rehman Malik, Bhutto's security adviser.

At least 20 others were killed in the attack.

Bhutto's supporters immediately pointed to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as the person behind the assassination.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack. But some of Bhutto's supporters at the hospital began chanting, "Killer, Killer, Musharraf," referring to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Bhutto's main political opponent. A few began stoning cars outside.

"We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests," Malik said.

President Bush, who supports Musharraf, is expected to make a statement in a few minutes. He must see this as a major development if he is willing to interrupt his vacation.