UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council calls for restraint in Pakistan following the assasination of Benazir Bhutto

Record ID: 336284

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council calls for restraint in Pakistan following the assasination of Benazir Bhutto
  • Date: 28th December 2007
  • Summary: UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) REPORTER TAKING NOTES
  • Embargoed: 12th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2ZIFGH36FIFSNVXOYXKSXYFI6
  • Story Text: The United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting on Thursday to condemn the assassination of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and calls on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint.
    The U.N. Security Council denounced the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday (December 27) as a "heinous act of terrorism" and called on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint.

    "The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist suicide attack by extremists," said a formal statement read out by Italian Ambassador Marcello Spatafora, current council president, at a specially convened meeting.

    "The Security Council pays tribute to former prime minister Bhutto. The Security Council calls on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country."
    After the meeting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the killing in the city of Rawalpindi, saying he was "shocked and outraged" by the assassination in Pakistan.
    Ban's also called on Pakistanis to remain calm.

    "I strongly call upon all Pakistanis to exercise maximum restraint for national unity and peace in this very difficult moment, and I wish all the best to the people and government of Pakistani in managing this very difficult situation," said Ban.
    Ban attended the council meeting although he does not usually do so.
    Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in Rawalpindi.
    Pakistan's deputy permanent U.N. representative, Farukh Amil, said it was too early to say who had carried out the attack, but added: "The government of Pakistan remains absolutely committed to fighting terrorism in all its forms."
    Apart from aid agencies, the only U.N. presence in Pakistan is a small team of military observers, currently standing at 44, which has monitored the country's border with India since 1949. The world body has largely steered clear of comments on Pakistan's turbulent political events in recent months.
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