27 December 2007

Bush on Assassination of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto

Killing of opposition leader was "cowardly act" by extremists, he says

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
December 27, 2007

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE DEATH OF BENAZIR BHUTTO

Prairie Chapel Ranch

Crawford, Texas

9:55 A.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT:  Laura and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters.  We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence.  And we send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occasion.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.  Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice.  Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as Prime Minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk.  Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country.

We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism.  We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life.

END        9:57 A.M. CST

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)