Benazir Bhutto died Thursday after a suicide bombing at a political rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
The opposition leader died after a suicide bombing at a rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.
"I am deeply shocked by news of the latest attack in Rawalpindi which has claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto and killed at least 15 other
people," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a written statement. Bhutto "knew the risks of her return to campaign but was convinced that her country needed her."
Miliband called for restraint and unity in the former British colony.
President Bush, vacationing at his Texas ranch, has been "informed about the situation in Pakistan," said the White House, which offered no other immediate comment. "We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan," said a spokesman. The president was expected to make a televised statement on the assassination at 11 a.m. ET.
In Washington, the State Department also condemned the attack. "It shows people are still intent on undermining democracy in Pakistan," said deputy spokesman Tom Casey.
For months, the Bush administration has been encouraging Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to work out a compromise with his political opponents, including the popular Bhutto. The former prime minister's party is widely expected to do well in next month's elections.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who knew Bhutto personally, "expressed vivid emotion following the attack," said a statement from his office.
Kouchner strongly condemned "this horrible act" and "reaffirms France's commitment to the stability of Pakistan and its democracy," the statement said.
In India, which has long had a thorny relationship with its neighbors in Pakistan, an Indian Congress Party spokesman told the Press Trust of India, "... we must express our deep concern at anything that disrupts and disturbs the even keel of democratic governance in Pakistan."
The spokesman, Abhishek Singhvi, said Indian democracy loathes violence, saying "it is not only anti-democracy but also generates instability."
In Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in a statement, "We hope the Pakistani government will identify and bring to justice those behind such a criminal act and restore tranquility to the country."
The Russian Foreign Ministry called her death a terror attack.
"We strongly condemn this terrorist act, present our condolences to the family and friends of Benazir Bhutto and hope that Pakistani authorities will provide for national stability," said Russian ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly expressed concern that the Pakistani government "must do its best to ensure the maximum stability in the election period and prevent terrorist acts against Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders," said the Kamynin statement.
The rally bombing took place as Bhutto campaigned for a third term as prime minister in parliamentary elections set for January 8.
Bangladesh Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed condemned the cowardly attack that led to the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
It was the second recent attack on Bhutto after she defied death threats and returned to her homeland from eight years of self-imposed exile. On October 18, a suicide bomber targeted her motorcade in Karachi, killing 136 people. Bhutto was unhurt in the attack.
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