World leaders condemn terror attack on Benazir

US President George Bush on Thursday expressed grief over the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and condemned the cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistans democracy.

Islamabad, Dec 27 : US President George Bush on Thursday expressed grief over the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and condemned the "cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy."

"Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as Prime Minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country," Bush said.

"We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honour Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life," he added.

President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai also expressed his grief over Thursday's tragic incident and said: "I am deeply sorry, deeply pained that this brave sister of ours, brave daughter of the Muslim world, is no longer with us."

"We in Afghanistan condemn this act of cowardice and immense brutality in the strongest possible terms. She sacrificed her life for the sake of Pakistan and for the sake of this region," he added.

Karzai, who had met Bhutto today morning, found her to be a brave woman.

"I found her to be a very, very brave woman with a clear vision for her own country, for Afghanistan and for the region, a vision of democracy and prosperity and peace," he recounted.

Britain also condemned the attack.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said, "Extremist groups could not and must not succeed".

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is meeting later today for an emergency session to discuss the evolving situation in Pakistan following the assassination of Bhutto.

ANI