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roachboy · 12-27-2007, 10:14 AM

some international responses (so far)......
interesting range.

Quote:

Bush condemns Bhutto killing amid civil war fears

Hélène Mulholland and agencies
Thursday December 27, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

The UN security council today called an emergency meeting amid warnings that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto could push Pakistan into civil war.

As Pakistan reeled from the death of its former prime minister and the leader of the Pakistan People's party (PPP), the UN's security council prepared to meet in New York to discuss the international security implications.

Bhutto was killed in a suicide bomb attack as she left a political rally in the city of Rawalpindi, prompting condemnation both at home and abroad.

A UN spokeswoman confirmed that a security council consultation would take place at noon in New York (5pm GMT) in connection with "threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts" as global leaders railed against the threat to Pakistan's democracy.

The US president, George Bush, called on the people of Pakistan to continue with the democratic process for which "she bravely gave her life".

"The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who try to undermine Pakistan's democracy," he said this afternoon. "Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice. Mrs Bhutto served the nation twice as prime minister and she knew her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of the country.

"We stand with the people of Pakistan against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honour Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."

In India, which has fought three wars against Pakistan, the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said Bhutto was irreplaceable, and noted her efforts to improve relations between the two nuclear-armed countries.

"I was deeply shocked and horrified to hear of the heinous assassination," Singh said. "In her death, the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country."

Bhutto's assassination "is not only bad for Pakistan," said former Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh, "it is bad for the entire region."

The British prime minister, Gordon Brown, said Bhutto had "risked everything" to win democracy in Pakistan.

"Benazir Bhutto was a woman with immense personal courage and bravery, knowing as she did the threats to her life and the previous assassination attempts," he said.

"Benazir Bhutto may have been killed by terrorists but the terrorists must not be allowed to kill democracy in Pakistan. We must resolve that terrorists do not win here, there or anywhere in the world."

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, condemned the "cowardice" of her killers. He said: "She sacrificed her life for the sake of Pakistan and for the sake of this region."

In a letter to the Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy called the attack an "odious act" and said "terrorism and violence have no place in the democratic debate and the combat of ideas and programs".

The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, expressed shock and outrage, calling Bhutto's death an assault "on stability" in Pakistan.

"I strongly condemn this heinous crime and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible," said Ban.

Russia echoed fears that the killing could trigger a wave of terror in the country.

"An act of terror is a bad sign," the deputy foreign minister, Alexander Losyukov, Russia's most senior Asia diplomat, told the Itar-Tass news agency. "We hereby offer our condolences. This will for certain trigger a wave of terrorism."

In Pakistan, commentators said the killing of Bhutto, who returned to Pakistan in October after eight years in exile, could spark unrest and would make the postponement of the upcoming elections almost certain.

"She has been martyred," said Rehman Malik, the PPP's security adviser.

Riaz Malik, of the opposition party Pakistan Movement for Justice (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), warned: "The impact will be that Pakistan is in more turmoil - it will be the start of civil war in Pakistan. There is a very real danger of civil war in Pakistan."

He said while suspicion was likely to fall on insurgent groups based in the northern tribal areas near the Afghan border, the killing was bound to increase dissatisfaction with the regime of the president, Pervez Musharraf.

"There will be a lot of fingers pointed at the government," he said.

The former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif sat with Bhutto's body in hospital before describing the death as "a tragedy for the entire nation". He told the BBC's News 24: "There has been a serious lapse in security. The government should have ensured the protection of Benazir Bhutto."

He denied his party stood to gain from Bhutto's death.

"This is a tragedy for her party and a tragedy for our party," he said. "Nobody stands to gain and nobody should be looking for any gain. It's a very serious situation for the country. We will have to take a serious look at the current situation in the coming days."

A PPP official said Bhutto's death had left "a black hole" in Pakistani politics. "It is not a question of political parties now," he said. "It is a question of Pakistan."

Hamid Khan, a spokesman from the Pakistan embassy in London, said it was too early to comment on whether there was a need to impose a state of emergency or reschedule the election to protect the public.

"It is too early to make any assumptions, but obviously this is a major development and the president and the government will be looking at every dimension," he said.

Khan sent his condolences to Bhutto's family. "It is extremely shocking and a very sad development which at a personal level for the Bhutto family is very tragic."

Britain's foreign secretary, David Miliband, said Bhutto had known the risks of her return to campaigning, but had been convinced that her country needed her.

"This is a time for restraint but also unity," said Miliband. "All those committed to a stable future for Pakistan will condemn without qualification all violence perpetrated against innocent people.

"In targeting Benazir Bhutto, extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan. They cannot and must not succeed."

The Tory leader, David Cameron, said Pakistan had lost "one of its bravest daughters".

"Those responsible have not only murdered a courageous leader but have put at risk hopes for the country's return to democracy," he said.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said Bhutto's death was a "hammer blow" against the dream of pluralism and tolerance in modern day Pakistan. "In the light of her brutal assassination, the need for the full restoration of democracy in Pakistan in now paramount," he said

Munib Anwar, a member of the Pakistan Lawyers' Action Committee, said Bhutto's death was a tragedy. "The hopes for a democratic Pakistan have been dashed today. She was the one great hope for Pakistan. Where are we now? I do not have any hope for the future."

Anwar said the "American-supported military government" was partly responsible for her death. "They brought these terrorists into Pakistan," he said. "The military and their American masters have to take some of the blame for this."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/S...232499,00.html