By DPA
Manila : The Philippines Friday condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as an “assault on democracy”.
“We mourn with the nation of Pakistan over the deaths of Benazir Bhutto and others killed in the shooting and bomb attack,” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the unmitigated, senseless atrocity,” she added. “Whoever perpetrated it, this attack is an assault on democracy.”
“The Philippines joins hands with the entire civilized world in solidarity against such mindless barbarity and in unwavering defence of peace, freedom, law and order,” Arroyo said.
Bhutto had returned from exile in October and planned to contest parliamentary elections in January.
The 54-year-old former prime minister was killed when an attacker shot her and then blew himself up during a campaign rally in the northern city of Rawalpindi on Thursday.