[Big Mac]

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — A homicide bomber attacked supporters of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as they were leaving a rally on Thursday and at least 20 people were feared dead, police and witnesses said. Bhutto was not harmed, an aide said.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw body parts and flesh scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park in Rawalpindi where the rally was held. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded.

The road outside was stained with blood and people screamed for ambulances. Others gave water to the wounded lying in the street. The clothing of some of the victims was shredded and people put party flags over their bodies.

The bomb went off just minutes after Bhutto spoke to thousands of supporters and she appeared to be the target of the attack. Farahtullah Babar, the spokesman for her party, said her vehicle was about 50 yards away from blast which went off as she was leaving the rally venue.

"She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound. We could feel its impact but by the grace of God, she is safe," he said.

Police official Saud Aziz said it was a homicide attack.

[Big Mac]

Wow they say it's critical. She was also missing for 30 minutes before turning up at a hospital, and the initial reports did not say she was wounded. Sounds suspiciously like a conspiracy, similar to the Rabin assassination.

8:27am - now she has been reported dead.

[Dork.]

CNN is now reporting she has died. And that she actually died from a bullet wound, not from the actual bombing.

[BRussell]

Jeezus. No good can come from this in Pakistan. Either the dictator will be "reelected," or there will be a revolt, as there should be, but the revolt will result in an Islamist takeover.

[Eug]

Interesting terminology:

“The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred,” Bhutto's lawyer Babar Awan said.

Originally Posted by BRussell 

Jeezus. No good can come from this in Pakistan. Either the dictator will be "reelected," or there will be a revolt, as there should be, but the revolt will result in an Islamist takeover.

That's what I was thinking too, unfortunately.

[vexborg]

She's dead, shot in the chest and neck, before the suicide bomber blew himself and several others up.

[MacosNerd]

She's dead

Wow this is going to destabilize that country further.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Interesting terminology:

“The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred,” Bhutto's lawyer Babar Awan said.

Interesting indeed. She was rushed away as the result of a bombing incident with initial reports saying she was not injured. Then... she was injured, but by a bullet. (in a bombing?) Now... she's martyred. What the rambus?

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by vexborg 

She's dead, shot in the chest and neck, before the suicide bomber blew himself and several others up.

egadz.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Interesting indeed. She was rushed away as the result of a bombing incident with initial reports saying she was not injured. Then... she was injured, but by a bullet. (in a bombing?) Now... she's martyred. What the rambus?

Curious and curiouser.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Interesting indeed. She was rushed away as the result of a bombing incident with initial reports saying she was not injured. Then... she was injured, but by a bullet. (in a bombing?) Now... she's martyred. What the rambus?

Generals call this the fog of war. The same thing occurs whenever a disaster occurs (man made or nature). So many reports start emanating that it takes time for the truth to sift out and clear up the confusion.

[Big Mac]

I don't know about that, Nerd. No one that I know of was reporting that President Kennedy had survived an attack on the day that he was assassinated. I was watching the news this morning as it was being reported right from the start, and as I said, in my opinion it smells of conspiracy.

[MacosNerd]

That may be true, but initial reports of the Kennedy assassinated did not report that he was killed but rather he was shot, even though he was dead.

Back when Ronald Reagan was shot there were so many conflicting reports about the attempt on his life, some of which was that he was not injured other reports said he was in grave condition etc.

The 911 tragedy was the same, first reports had a small plane impacting the building.

In this modern era where anyone can basically provide news reports, accurate information is getting harder to get amongst the "chatter"

I agree with you on the conspiracy though, its too convenient that a powerful and vocal opponent to the Pakistani leader has been eliminated

[Weyland-Yutani]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — A homicide bomber ....

This is where I stopped reading, since I realized the writer of the article wasn't in touch with the real world but with his head up his ass.

[BadKosh]

...and therefore you were able to recognize his face when it slid in next to yours?

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

...and therefore you were able to recognize his face when it slid in next to yours?

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by Weyland-Yutani 

This is where I stopped reading, since I realized the writer of the article wasn't in touch with the real world but with his head up his ass.

As politically charged as the term "Homicide Bomber" is, at least it's not inaccurate. Although the bomber's intent is to commit suicide, the manner in which he is doing it is designed to commit homicide as well.

[xi_hyperon]

Musharraff has declared a 3-day mourning period. Next up: My guess is the re-imposing of the government security clampdown and postponement of elections.

[Mithras]

Terrible, terrible tragedy for Pakistan. I fear for whatever might come next. She was a problematic leader in some respects, but she was a stabilizing influence and a brave leader.

Police official Saud Aziz said it was a homicide attack.

And idiotic sentences like this are what you get when ideology, instead of clarity, drives editing choices. Not to mention the fact that Fox (or wherever you got this from) just did a mindless find-replace on "suicide."

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon 

Musharraff has declared a 3-day mourning period. Next up: My guess is the re-imposing of the government security clampdown and postponement of elections.

I wouldn't be surprised, but by the same token, this assassination could cause the nation to spiral into chaos if marshal law isn't invoked.

[OldManMac]

The stock market is taking notice as well.

[Arty50]

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon 

Musharraff has declared a 3-day mourning period. Next up: My guess is the re-imposing of the government security clampdown and postponement of elections.

The other major opposition candidate also suggested that postponing the elections might be a good idea.

It's going to be really interesting to watch the aftermath of this...

[Wiskedjak]

My guess is that Musharraff is behind this. He obviously has no interest in elections and Bhutto was the biggest threat to him maintaining power.

[AngelaBaby]

RIP Bhutto

[davesimondotcom]

This really sucks for the advancement of common sense, women's rights and moderate Islam in general. As well as the world.

[Weyland-Yutani]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

...and therefore you were able to recognize his face when it slid in next to yours?

Sounds like you`re quite the ass-expert!

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Weyland-Yutani 

Sounds like you`re quite the ass-expert!

Nah - I think he's just seen enough of your posts.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

My guess is that Musharraff is behind this. He obviously has no interest in elections and Bhutto was the biggest threat to him maintaining power.

Could be true but I doubt it. He had to realize that this would cause a ton of civil unrest. Impact US relations, and thus $$$ coming his way and put a bulls eye on his back.

No I think this is the work of muslim radicals. Bhutto has long been a proponent of western values and has promised that she will not stop until those radicals are crushed and Pakistan is a full fledged democracy. That type of talk in a muslim nation is a death warrant.

[BadKosh]

Originally Posted by Weyland-Yutani 

Sounds like you`re quite the ass-expert!

YOU were the one with the 1st comment about someones arse. Seems it's YOUR preoccupation.
Your trend continues.

[vexborg]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

I wouldn't be surprised, but by the same token, this assassination could cause the nation to spiral into chaos if marshal law isn't invoked.

Too late for that.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by vexborg 

Too late for that.

So it appears.

[Eug]

So, just how corrupt was she anyways?

Her last governments were criticized for being corrupt.

[ebuddy]

Now... she wasn't killed by a bullet.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Eug 

So, just how corrupt was she anyways?

Her last governments were criticized for being corrupt.

I'm sure she was at least as corrupt as any politician.