International Elections: December 2007 Archives

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, 54, was killed today at a campaign rally where she spoke before thousands of supporters.  A sucide bomber shot her in the neck and chest before blowing himself up.  At least 20 others were killed.

Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan, returned to the country from exile on October 18th.  That same day, she was almost injured in a suicide bomber attack that killed 140 people at her homecoming parade.

No one has claimed responsibility for Bhutto's asassination, but some of her supporters believe that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was behind it.  Musharaff was well known as her main political opponent.

Bhutto's party, which is Pakistan's largest political party, is left without her leadership just days before Pakistan's parliamentary election.  Her party had been expected to do well.

In photo above, Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto waves to supporters at a campaign rally shortly before she was gunned down.  Photo credtit: Mian Khursheed/Reuters.