Russia condemns bomb attack in Pakistan targeting Bhutto

Source: Xinhua | 12-28-2007 08:46

MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Thursday condemned the bomb attack in Pakistan that killed the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Bhutto, former Pakistani prime minister, was shot Thursday minutes after she addressed a rally of thousands of supporters in the city of Rawalpindi, police said. The attacker blew himself up immediately after the shots.

Speaking to the press, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said "We denounce the act and express our condolences to Bhutto's relatives and friends."

Kamynin urged Pakistan's authorities to take appropriate measures to bring stability to the country.

"Moscow reiterated that Pakistan's authorities should do everything possible in this crucial period in order to ensure stability in the country," he was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

Bhutto, 54, died in a hospital after the attack in Rawalpindi, some 30 km south from Islamabad. Latest reports said at least 20 were injured in the attack.

Bhutto served twice as Pakistan's prime minister between 1988 and 1996. She returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile on Oct. 18.

She narrowly escaped a suicide bomb attack during her homecoming parade in Karachi on Oct. 19.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei