Benazire Bhutto Assassinated at Rally by Suicide Attacker

Former prime minister Benazire Bhutto was assassinated Thursday at the end of a campaign rally in Rawalpindi.  The attacker shot Bhutto in the chest and neck before he blew himself up killing at least 20 more people.  Immediately taken to the hospital, doctors tried to save Bhutto, she was pronounced dead at 6:16 pm.  Bhutto was 54 years old.

The emotional response to the candidate’s death was tremendous.  Some of Bhutto’s supporters smashed through the glass doors of the hospital, some cried and some chanted “killer, killer, musharraf,” Bhutto’s opponent and Pakistani President.

Another opponent of Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif, visited the hospital only to sit quietly by her body.  He experienced some troubles of his own at his rally earlier that day.  A fight erupted between his supporters and those supporting Musharraf.  Four were killed in the incident.