UNITED NATIONS, 28 December 2007 — UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday led the global condemnation of the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto calling it a “heinous crime” and “an assault on stability” in her country. “I strongly condemn this heinous crime and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the secretary-general said in a statement.
US President George W. Bush called for her killers to be brought to justice. “The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan’s democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice,” Bush said in a statement to reporters at his Texas ranch.
Earlier, a US State Department official said: “The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development.”
The Arab League called it a “heinous terrorist crime.” Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the 22-member body, condemned the killing and “offered heartfelt condolences to the Pakistani people over the tragic development.” He also expressed shock and anger at such a “heinous terrorist crime,” the Middle East News Agency reported.
The United Arab Emirates, which had been Benazir’s home during her eight years of self-exile condemned the murder and called for Pakistan to unite. “The UAE has been tormented by this huge loss, which did not hit Pakistan only, but also affected the UAE,” Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan said. “Words fail to express our condemnation of this criminal act and our pain for the loss of Benazir Bhutto,” he said, calling on the Pakistani people to “unite and put their differences aside.
Pakistan’s neighbor India said Benazir’s assassination was a tragedy and a terrible blow to the democratic process. “In her death the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai called it an act of “immense brutality” that had resulted in a “big loss for all of us.”
Denouncing the murder, Vatican spokesman Father Frederico Lombardi said: “This attack shows how extremely difficult it is to pacify a nation so wrought by violence. We share the sadness of the Pakistani population.”
Russia condemned the killing and called on the authorities to ensure stability. “We firmly condemn this terrorist act, we express our condolences to Benazir Bhutto’s relatives and loved ones, and we hope that the Pakistani leadership will manage to take necessary steps to ensure stability in the country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted as saying.
