Musharraf condemns blasts

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf condemned deadly bomb blasts Thursday that targeted a convoy carrying former premier Benazir Bhutto, describing the attack as a “conspiracy against democracy.”

“President Musharraf said he condemned this attack in the strongest possible words,” according to a statement released by state media.

“He said this was a conspiracy against democracy,” the statement carried by the Associated Press of Pakistan said. Musharraf also appealed for calm after the blasts, which killed more than 100 people in the southern port city of Karachi.

“The president appealed to the nation and especially the people of Karachi to exercise patience and calm in this hour. “The president said the government would take every step to trace the culprits and award them exemplary punishment.

“He said the government would bear all the expenses for the medical treatment of the injured.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also condemned the attack, saying he was deeply shocked. “The president and the prime minister in their separate messages said they had been deeply shocked by the dastardly act,” the statement said.

Karachi, Friday, AFP