(AFP) – Dec 27, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Thursday he was "deeply shocked" by Benazir Bhutto's assassination and called for "restraint but also unity."

"I am deeply shocked by news of the latest attack in Rawalpindi which has claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto," Miliband said.

"Benazir Bhutto showed in her words and actions a deep commitment to her country. She knew the risks of her return to campaign but was convinced that her country needed her."

He added: "This is a time for restraint but also unity. All those committed to a stable future for Pakistan will condemn without qualification all violence perpetrated against innocent people.

"In targeting Benazir Bhutto extremist groups have in their sights all those committed to democratic processes in Pakistan.

"They cannot and must not succeed."

He added that Britain would "continue to work with all those who want to build a peaceful and democratic Pakistan."

Britain is the former colonial power in Pakistan and has a sizeable population with links to the country. Bhutto had a home in London and went to university in Oxford.

Friends of the former prime minister lined up to pay tribute.

Munib Anwar, a member of pressure group the Pakistan Lawyers' Action Committee, wept as he said it was "a very sad day" for Pakistan.

"She was such a brave woman. The hopes for a democratic Pakistan have been dashed today," he said.

"She was the one great hope for Pakistan. Where are we now?

"I do not have any hope for the future."

Amit Roy, a writer and political commentator who was a friend of Bhutto, said that in one of his last conversations with her, he had joked that she should leave politics and become an academic.

"But she felt that it was always her ambition to return to Pakistan as prime minister. She knew the risks but was determined to stay," he said.

"The elections should go ahead but they might have to be postponed for a while because emotions will be running very high.

"It might be logistically impossible to have them at the moment."

Meanwhile, Taimur Rahman, of the British-based National Union of Pakistani Students and Alumni, said the death was an "unprecedented national tragedy".

"Right now I think people are overwhelmed with grief and this grief is going to turn to anger," he said.

"People will blame the government for not providing adequate protection for the people campaigning in this election.

"This will strike people as an attempt to deny them representation. This could lead to an enormous increase in the level of violence in Pakistan."

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