Durrani: Bhutto death 'national loss'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Pakistani Ambassador Mahmud Ali Durrani said in Washington Thursday the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is an effort to stymie the move to democracy.

Durrani said Pakistan must not allow Thursday's assassination to disrupt planned elections Jan. 8.

Bhutto, who was Pakistan's prime minister from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996, was killed in a suicide bombing as she left a political rally in Rawalpindi. It was unclear whether she died from bullet wounds or shrapnel.

Durrani said the assassination was a blow to liberal forces by extremists who oppose democracy, and praised Bhutto as " a real democrat" and "a pragmatic and prudent politician." He called her death a great "national loss."

"This has been done by terrorists, and this should firm up Pakistan's resolve to fight extremism and terrorism," he told a press conference. "And we will, God willing, keep democracy going in Pakistan."