Brussels, 19/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 October, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out the day before in Karachi, Pakistan, against the convoy of former Pakistani prime minister Benazhir Bhutto. Solana said: 'I am shocked at this terrorist attach against Mrs Benazhir Bhutto's convoy on her return to Pakistan and I condemn in the strongest possible terms this despicable act that killed dozens of people and left hundreds injured. I convey my most sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani authorities.' As we were going to press, there were provisional reports of 133 killed and at least 400 injured. Despite the bloodshed, Bhutto said she would remain in Pakistan to lead her party in the January 2008 general elections.
Solana added: 'I urge the authorities and all political forces of Pakistan to do their utmost to guarantee that the upcoming elections will be held in a peaceful climate in which the people of Pakistan can make its voice heard through the ballot.'
The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, has been negotiating a power sharing agreement with Bhutto for the past few months. He too condemned the attack in the firmest possible terms, talking of it as being a plot against democracy. If the power sharing negotiations are successful, Musharraf would remain as president and Bhutto would become prime minister. The United States, which sees Musharraf as a key ally in their war against terror, also condemned the brutal terrorist attack. (L.C.)