Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

(Rawalpindi, Pakistan) At the close of a planned political rally, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was shot and killed.

Reports are sketchy and conflicting, however, it's believed that Bhutto was shot several times just prior to a suicide bomber detonated himself.

From Hindustan Times:

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, her party said.

"She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik.

Bhutto, 54, died in hospital in Rawalpindi. Ary-One Television said she had been shot in the head.

Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she was leaving the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.

"The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said police officer Mohammad Shahid.

Bhutto was reported to have been shot as many as five times, including in the neck and the head. Upwards of dozens of people were killed and injured in the bomb blast.

Anti-democracy elements in and near the government are being blamed although no suspects have been named thus far. Bhutto was a friend of the West and regularly received death threats from Taliban and al-Qaeda supporters. There have been previous attempts at her life.

According to Wasif Ali Khan of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the 54-year-old leader died at 6:16 p.m. local time. Bhutto is survived by her husband Asif Ali Zardari and two children.