Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suspected suicide bomb attack at an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi, near the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. She was shot in the neck and chest before the gunman blew himself up, killing at least 20 other people in the explosion - the second targeting Ms Bhutto since her return from self-imposed exile in October this year.
While there has been no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack, analysts believe the most likely group behind it are Islamist militants. Protests have broken out in other Pakistani cities as news of the assassination spread, with reports of 11 deaths.
One cannot help but feel that the demise of this brave and remarkable woman is a tragedy for the people of Pakistan. Yes, Benazir Bhutto was surrounded in controversy while she was in office. And by openly associating herself with the West, she probably signed her death warrant. But you have to admire her courage in accepting the risks and facing those forces baying for her blood.
Would she have helped in bringing peace to Pakistan next year? We'll never know now.
Rest in peace, Benazir Bhutto and those innocents killed today. One sincerely hopes Pakistan will recover from this loss.
Benazir Bhutto killed in attack
Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
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