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TIMELINE: Bhutto assassinated in Pakistan

Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:40am EST

(Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on Thursday in a gun and bomb attack after holding an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi. Her party and state media confirmed her death.

Here is a chronology of major political events in the country in recent months:

March 9, 2007 - President Pervez Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally round him and Musharraf's popularity plummets.

July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. Militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.

July 20 - Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf's authority.

July 27 - Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands that Musharraf step down as army chief.

Sept 10 - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.

October 2 - Musharraf's government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.

October 6 - Musharraf wins a new presidential term in a vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.

October 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. At least 139 people are killed in one of the country's deadliest attacks.

November 2 - Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while army chief.

November 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.

November 11 - Musharraf says election will take place on January 8.

November 13 - Bhutto is placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before a planned march against emergency rule. Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.

November 14 - Sharif says he is ready to work with Bhutto.

November 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker line-up to oversee elections.

November 22 - Commonwealth suspends Pakistan.

November 25 - Sharif returns from exile.

November 28 - A tearful Musharraf hands command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.

November 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as civilian leader.

November 30 - Bhutto publishes her manifesto for the January 8 election, keeping open the option of boycotting the vote.

December 9 - Sharif says he will take part in election, rather than boycott.

December 15 - Musharraf lifts the state of emergency and restores the constitution.

December 27 - Bhutto is killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in Rawalpindi. At least 16 people are killed in the blast.

(Writing by David Cutler and Gill Murdoch, London Editorial Reference Unit; editing by Roger Crabb)

© Reuters 2007

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2771860820071227


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INSTANT VIEW: Pakistan's Bhutto killed in attack: party

Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:46am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, an official of her party said.

Following is reaction from analysts and officials:

SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER CARL BILDT AT NEWS CONFERENCE

Bildt said he had received the news of Bhutto's death with "disgust, dismay and strong concern".

He described her as "charismatic, colorful and controversial" and said he feels "A very strong concern for what it means for Pakistan's future".

"I would really like to think that there is a chance that they will go through with plans for elections in January but we are just an hour from this bestial killing so it may be best to wait before giving a more detailed assessment."

RONNIE MAMOEPA, SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

"Clearly South Africa is saddened by the news of the murder of Benazir Bhutto and condemns unequivocally this outrageous act of violence."

"No amount of violence can be a justification towards an attainment of any political objective. We call on the Pakistani people do everything in their power, to leave no stone unturned to find the perpetrators of this dastardly act."

AUDREY CHILDE-FREEMAN, EUROPEAN ECONOMIST, CIBC, LONDON

"Pakistan is a crucial country in the region and prospects for political uncertainty are leading to some nervousness (which is reflected in) gold, bond and oil prices rising and the dollar dipping."

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

"(Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner) firmly condemns this odious act."

"He presents his condolences to her family, the victims of the attack and the Pakistani people."

"He pays homage to the memory of Ms Bhutto, an eminent figure in Pakistani political life.

"He reaffirms our country's commitment to Pakistan's stability and its democracy, which must be at the centre of attention of the entire international community."

JENNIFER HARBISON, HEAD OF ASIA DESK, CONTROL RISKS, LONDON

"I think this is anticipated. It is well within what we expected might happen. We have known since her arrival back in Pakistan she was in danger, so I don't think the changes our fundamental risk assessment."

"This is not Pakistan itself under threat. This is an assassination in an election campaign and has to be seen in that context."

"It does cast a shadow over the election and it raises some concerns over how the government might deal with any popular reaction to this. There is the potential that her supporters could take to the streets and that is something that will be difficult for the government to address without at least considering a return to emergency rule."

"In technical terms the party has simply lost a single candidate. In real terms the party has lost its leader and the main campaigner but technically the election can go ahead. It might be postponed, I think, cancellation will be much more difficult to do."

ERIC WITTENAUER, OIL ANALYST AT A.G. EDWARDS, ST. LOUIS

"I think it is modestly supportive of oil markets, not because it has an impact on actual production or supply, but it does offer some geopolitical support to a market which continues to be tight. Being a hotbed of al Qaeda activity and camps, it brings some support."

WILLEM SELS, CREDIT STRATEGIST, DRESDNER KLEINWORT, LONDON

"Equity market futures have not dropped dramatically. Geopolitical risks are always something that can add to where the market is going if the market doesn't have more important subjects to jump on. But I think we have enough on our minds in the credit markets and the liquidity crunch that this will remain more important than geopolitical risks. I wouldn't think this will do much to equity or credit market direction."

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, WASHINGTON

"We do condemn the attack. The attack shows that there are still those in Pakistan trying to undermine reconciliation and democratic development in Pakistan."

PETER BEUTEL, OIL ANALYST, CAMERON HANOVER IN NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT

"It raises the level of tension, but it's hard to connect the dots, try though the market may, between a political assassination and oil.

"It definitely is not a reason to sell and puts everybody on tenterhooks."

MAX KING, INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, INVESTEC ASSET MANAGEMENT, LONDON

"This is absolute disaster for Pakistan. Pakistan is clearly turning into one of the failed states in Asia.

I suppose it could have an impact on India. She (Benazir Bhutto) is a politician who basically had the best attitude towards India."

WILLIAM ADAMS, METALS ANALYST, BASEMETALS.COM, LONDON

"The jump up we've had in gold has been partly on the back of this news as its a destabilizing factor.

"Overall the geo-political scene has been fairly quiet of late so this is a fresh escalation in the run up to elections there."

CAMILLA SUTTON, CURRENCY STRATEGIST, SCOTIA CAPITAL, TORONTO

"(Bhutto) is just a concern. The move to gold is the flight to safety and quality on the headlines on a quiet illiquid day."

LOU BRIEN, MARKET STRATEGIST, DRW TRADING, CHICAGO

"It adds to an undercurrent of unease here. People are trying to work out the linkage of this event to the financial markets."

JIM AWAD, CHAIRMAN OF W.P. STEWART ASSET MANAGEMENT, NEW YORK

"It highlights the long-term geopolitical issues we face with instability in that region with rising Islamic fervor, which ultimately threatens the oil-producing areas."

"The most direct effect is the terror premium on the price of oil, which has a stagflation effect on world economies."

MATTHEW STRAUSS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE STRATEGIST AT RBC CAPITAL, TORONTO

"Right now we are not seeing any significant impact of the news in Pakistan on major currencies, but obviously, if this leads to major upheaval in the country and on its neighbors, we might see some increase in risk aversion, which may be felt on carry currencies."

© Reuters 2007

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSKIM75151820071227