Special report: Pakistani Situation

Related: Pakistan's Bhutto killed in suicide attack

    BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The international community on Thursday condemned the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and called for calm and restraint in Pakistan.

    Bhutto, 54, was killed Thursday evening in a suicide bombing attack during her election rally at the Liaquat Bagh park in Rawalpindi, some 30 km south of the Pakistani capital Islamabad. At least 20 people were killed in the attack.

    The UN Security Council strongly condemned the assassination. The Council held an emergency meeting and issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack "in the strongest terms."

    It also called on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country.

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for the perpetrators tobe brought to justice as soon as possible.

    U.S. President George W. Bush, strongly condemning the murder, telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation the wake of the assassination.

    U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Amin Fahimm, the new leader of Bhutto's political party, to voice U. S. support for Pakistan's upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan.8.

    White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said: "We would urge calm and hope that all the Pakistanis would mourn her death, celebrate her life and unite together."

    Unrest broke out in several areas of Pakistan and at least two people were killed in violence stirred up by Bhutto's assassination.

    Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to Musharraf, expressing the hope that those responsible for Bhutto's death would be found and punished.

    "We hope the masterminds of that crime will be found and will face deserved punishment," Putin said.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry urged "all responsible forces in Pakistan" to "show maximum self-control," and to ignore extremist provocations.

    British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the murder and said it was "a sad day" for political freedom and democracy.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with "shock" to the killing, saying the "cowardly act" underscored the need to continue the fight against terrorism and support those who suffered its consequences.

    Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said: "I urge the government and people of Pakistan to continue to reject all forms of violence and to resist those who seek to destabilize their country."

    Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said: "The sacrifice of ex-premier Bhutto must be the strongest example for those who won't give in to terrorism."

    Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa strongly condemned the killing of Bhutto and expressed shock at such "heinous terrorist crime."