McCain condemns Bhutto assassination

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called assassinated former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto a "decent woman."

Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack as she left a political rally Thursday in Rawalpindi. CNN said it was unclear whether she was shot or hit by shrapnel.

Campaigning in Des Moines, Iowa, in advance of next week's presidential preference caucuses, McCain also noted nine attempts have been made on the life of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

"Suicide bombers are the most difficult kind of attackers to repel, whether they be in Iraq, Pakistan or Israel," McCain said, adding that the next hurdle is to make sure "things don't unravel" in the entire region.

He said Bhutto was a "decent woman who came back from exile to serve her country."

Other presidential hopefuls reacted as well.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said he was "shocked and saddened."

"Her murderers must be brought to justice," Republican Rudy Giuliani said, adding the assassination was a "tragic event." "Terror anywhere … is an enemy of freedom," the former New York mayor said.

Republican Mitt Romney said the assassination was a reminder terrorism isn't limited to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said it "points out the need for our nation and other civilized nations of the world to come together."

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called the assassination "sorrowful day for Pakistan."

"The people of Pakistan deserve to know that the people of the United States stand with them as they struggle to restore constitutional government and to prevail over thuggery," Leahy said. "They will want to know that our military aid is no longer blind to their aspirations. And they need to know that we share their profound sense of loss.