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18-10-07, 23:02
Dodelijke aanslagen overschaduwen terugkeer Bhutto
Uitgegeven: 18 oktober 2007 21:46
Laatst gewijzigd: 18 oktober 2007 23:24
KARACHI - Dodelijke aanslagen hebben de terugkeer van de Pakistaanse ex-premier Benazir Bhutto in haar vaderland overschaduwd. Tijdens de triomfocht van Bhutto donderdagavond door de stad Karachi ontploften zeker twee bommen. Zeker honderd mensen kwamen om het leven. Ruim honderdvijftig personen raakten gewond.
Het betrof vermoedelijk zelfmoordaanslagen die doelbewust gericht waren tegen ex-premier Bhutto, stelde minister Aftab Sherpao van Binnenlandse Zaken. Hij sprak over een terreurdaad die bedoeld was de democratie te dwarsbom
Bhutto convoy bombs kill dozens
At least 125 people have been killed including police and 100 wounded after two bombs hit crowds greeting returning Pakistani ex-PM Benazir Bhutto.
Ms Bhutto was being driven in a convoy through crowded streets from Karachi airport to a rally to mark her homecoming after eight years in exile.
Ms Bhutto was not among the casualties and has been driven to safety.
Hundreds of thousands of people had turned out to greet the former PM, amid a huge security presence.
Several Islamist groups including pro-Taleban militants have made threats against Ms Bhutto.
Police have cordoned off the scene of the blasts.
The area around a stage where she was due to give a speech to supporters has been evacuated.
Police say the bombings may have been suicide attacks.
The US White House condemned the blasts.
"Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process," said spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Rushed away
The first explosion was relatively small but was followed by a much larger blast close to the front of Ms Bhutto's truck, which broke its windows and door.
"There was blood all around and it was chaos - and we couldn't understand what was happening all around - we didn't know where to go, what to do," said Farzana Raja, a spokeswoman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
It is not clear whether the bomber was on foot or in a vehicle.
Police vehicles took the main force of the blasts and at least eight police were killed.
Most of the dead were members of the PPP. One cameraman for a local TV station was also killed.
Correspondents say Ms Bhutto may have been shielded from the blast by an overhang because she was sitting on top of the truck at the time.
The former prime minister was immediately rushed from the scene to her Karachi residency, according to contingency plans.
Uitgegeven: 18 oktober 2007 21:46
Laatst gewijzigd: 18 oktober 2007 23:24
KARACHI - Dodelijke aanslagen hebben de terugkeer van de Pakistaanse ex-premier Benazir Bhutto in haar vaderland overschaduwd. Tijdens de triomfocht van Bhutto donderdagavond door de stad Karachi ontploften zeker twee bommen. Zeker honderd mensen kwamen om het leven. Ruim honderdvijftig personen raakten gewond.
Het betrof vermoedelijk zelfmoordaanslagen die doelbewust gericht waren tegen ex-premier Bhutto, stelde minister Aftab Sherpao van Binnenlandse Zaken. Hij sprak over een terreurdaad die bedoeld was de democratie te dwarsbom
Bhutto convoy bombs kill dozens
At least 125 people have been killed including police and 100 wounded after two bombs hit crowds greeting returning Pakistani ex-PM Benazir Bhutto.
Ms Bhutto was being driven in a convoy through crowded streets from Karachi airport to a rally to mark her homecoming after eight years in exile.
Ms Bhutto was not among the casualties and has been driven to safety.
Hundreds of thousands of people had turned out to greet the former PM, amid a huge security presence.
Several Islamist groups including pro-Taleban militants have made threats against Ms Bhutto.
Police have cordoned off the scene of the blasts.
The area around a stage where she was due to give a speech to supporters has been evacuated.
Police say the bombings may have been suicide attacks.
The US White House condemned the blasts.
"Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process," said spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Rushed away
The first explosion was relatively small but was followed by a much larger blast close to the front of Ms Bhutto's truck, which broke its windows and door.
"There was blood all around and it was chaos - and we couldn't understand what was happening all around - we didn't know where to go, what to do," said Farzana Raja, a spokeswoman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
It is not clear whether the bomber was on foot or in a vehicle.
Police vehicles took the main force of the blasts and at least eight police were killed.
Most of the dead were members of the PPP. One cameraman for a local TV station was also killed.
Correspondents say Ms Bhutto may have been shielded from the blast by an overhang because she was sitting on top of the truck at the time.
The former prime minister was immediately rushed from the scene to her Karachi residency, according to contingency plans.