Benazir Bhutto assassinated in suicide attack

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday as she campaigned to become prime minister of Pakistan for a third time.

Witnesses said a man fired at Bhutto from close range, quickly followed by an explosion that the government said was caused by a suicide attacker. At least a dozen more people were killed in the attack.

Dr. Abbas Hayat, professor of pathology at Rawalpindi General Hospital where Bhutto was taken, said doctors tried to revive her for 35 minutes before she was declared dead at 6:16 p.m. He said she had shrapnel wounds and head injuries but could not confirm whether she had bullet injuries.

At the hospital where Bhutto was taken, a large number of police officers began to cordon off the area as angry party workers smashed windows. Amid the crowd, dozens of people beat their chests, and chanted slogans against President Pervez Musharraf. Many protesters shouted "Musharraf Dog!"

Musharraf blamed terrorists for the assassination and announced three days of mourning for Bhutto.