Report: Bhutto killed in attack

[almaty 19]

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide attack, according to media reports.

Geo TV quoted her husband saying the politician had died following a bullet wound in the neck.

Bhutto is helped from her vehicle following the October 18 suicide attack on her motorcade.

1 of 2 The suicide attack left at least 14 dead and 40 injured, Tariq Azim Khan, the country's former information minister, told CNN in a telephone interview.

The attacker is said to have detonated a bomb as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

Bhutto is said to have been leaving the rally when the attack occurred and was taken to a hospital in an unconcious state, the Geo TV report said.

Earlier, a spokesman for Bhutto told CNN she was safe and taken away from the scene.

Video from the scene of the blast broadcast from Geo TV showed wounded people being loaded into ambulances.

Up to 20 people are dead, the report said.

Earlier, four supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Friday, local police said.

Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police added.

While President Pervez Musharraf has promised free and fair parliamentary elections next month, continued instability in the tribal areas and the threat of attack on large crowds has kept people from attending political rallies and dampened the country's political process.

Campaigners from various political groups say fewer people are coming out to show their support due to government crackdowns and the threat of violence.

At least 136 people were killed and more than 387 wounded on October 18 when a suicide bomber attacked Bhutto's slow-moving motorcade. The former PM returned to the country after eight years of self-imposed exile to a massive show of support in the southern port city of Karachi.

Bhutto called it "an attack on democracy" and vowed it would not deter her political campaign.

Today's violence come less than two weeks ahead of January parliamentary elections and as many days after President Pervez Musharraf lifted a six-week-old state of emergency he said was necessary to ensure the country's stability.

Critics said Musharraf's political maneuvering was meant to stifle the country's judiciary as well as curb the media and opposition groups to secure more power. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Mohsin Naqvi contributes to this report

First of all..this is terrible..i admired her and her bravery for coming back to Pakistan

second of all............. all Hell is getting ready to break out in Pakistan...

[almaty 19]

bump...

i am hoping to hear from my brother arijit and sriniv..whose opinion on this area of the world i value...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

#######. Looks like Pakistan is going to go down the tubes. Put us in a difficult diplomatic position at the least...

[almaty 19]

#######. Looks like Pakistan is going to go down the tubes. Put us in a difficult diplomatic position at the least...

i see a civil war.....the least, massive violence...terror and destruction

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

#######. Looks like Pakistan is going to go down the tubes. Put us in a difficult diplomatic position at the least...

i see a civil war.....the least, massive violence...terror and destruction

I wonder how the situation with India will play out.

[almaty 19]

i am certain...that there be allot of instability there..and as the soviets like to do..find an outside source to focus on...India

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Maybe India could take down Al Qaeda from the Pakistan side as the coalition works from the Afghanistan side.

[almaty 19]

i doubt, India wants no part in anything right now going on in pakistan

[SMOKE 1,426]

second of all............. all Hell is getting ready to break out in Pakistan...

oh yah....could bust loose all over MENA...& across the globe for that matter. this is going to be horrible.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

bump...

i am hoping to hear from my brother arijit and sriniv..whose opinion on this area of the world i value...

I don't know what I think about this. No tears for Benazir, that's for sure. If they kill Nawaz Sharif next, no tears for him, either. Corrupt and incompetent, the both of them.

A lot of it depends on who 'the people' end up thinking killed her. If they think Musharraf had anything to do with it, watch for massive civil unrest. If they think the islamic fundies did it, watch for a rallying-around Musharraf, which is really what he's good at. He's a military guy, all his pretensions to the contrary notwithstanding. He functions well when there's an enemy.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It occurs to me that it is just as likely that Nawaz had her killed (note the 'failed' assassination attempt on him, perhaps for dramatic effect?).

[chri'stina 190]

I have just heard from Sujeet about Bhutto being corrupt, not that any of the leaders over there have been much better. But still I do find it sad. There have been so many assasinations of leaders in that region, India included, over the years. It makes me mad how people don't want dialogue they just want to assasinate people.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have just heard from Sujeet about Bhutto being corrupt, not that any of the leaders over there have been much better. But still I do find it sad. There have been so many assasinations of leaders in that region, India included, over the years. It makes me mad how people don't want dialogue they just want to assasinate people.

The only people who will shed tears over Benazir will be the political lackeys who were looking forward to a return to 'the good life' under her political patronage.

As for dialogue... it doesn't work that way. Some people need killin

[almaty 19]

bump...

i am hoping to hear from my brother arijit and sriniv..whose opinion on this area of the world i value...

I don't know what I think about this. No tears for Benazir, that's for sure. If they kill Nawaz Sharif next, no tears for him, either. Corrupt and incompetent, the both of them.

A lot of it depends on who 'the people' end up thinking killed her. If they think Musharraf had anything to do with it, watch for massive civil unrest. If they think the islamic fundies did it, watch for a rallying-around Musharraf, which is really what he's good at. He's a military guy, all his pretensions to the contrary notwithstanding. He functions well when there's an enemy.

thank you..brother arijit..for your insight....we are spooned fed pro bhutto rhetoric here in the West...so, i am glad to get your views and your outlook

[mustang-sally 8]

It occurs to me that it is just as likely that Nawaz had her killed (note the 'failed' assassination attempt on him, perhaps for dramatic effect?).

As soon as she set foot back in Pakistan this was inevitable, I think she knew that.

It wasn't 'if' but 'when'.

She wanted to die in her home country.

We can only wait and see what the repercussions will be. I'm expecting a civil war, the PPP are very popular.