Global stocks rattled by Benazir murder, weak data

Asian stock markets fell in early deals Friday following heavy losses on Wall Street as the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sparked jitters about global security, dealers said. Bhutto's assassination, together with weak US economic data, sent nervous investors fleeing to safe haven investments, dealers said. Her death Thursday in Pakistan raised geopolitical concerns about stability in the nuclear-armed country, they added. Gold and oil prices rose in Asian trade with crude futures climbing back towards the 100 dollars-per-barrel mark. "Benazir's death could raise the geopolitical tension which would sustain the rise in oil prices," said Prayoga Triyono, a fund manager at Henan Putirai Asset Management in Jakarta

Musharraf vows to defeat terrorists

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf condemned the killing of former premier Benazir Bhutto Thursday, saying it was the work of terrorists and resolving not to rest until they were eliminated. Speaking on state media after a suicide attacker killed the country's charismatic opposition leader in Rawalpindi, Musharraf said "this brutality is the handiwork of those terrorists against whom we are fighting." "This is a big tragedy for the nation, which cannot be explained in words," he said. "I am deeply grieved and condemn it strongly." "I have always been saying that the Pakistani nation faces the biggest threat from these terrorists," said Musharraf, who announced three days of national mourning

Oil prices at month-highs after Benazir killing

World oil traded above 97 dollars a barrel in Asia on Friday, its highest level in a month, following the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, dealers said. They said the rise in prices was also supported by a US report showing a higher-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles. In morning trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, was 39 cents higher at 97.01 dollars a barrel after closing 65 cents higher in New York. Brent North Sea crude for February rose 23 cents to 95.01 dollars a barrel after a jump of 84 cents in London trade on Thursday. Trading volumes remained thin amid year-end holiday celebrations.

Benazir’s dead body being taken to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh for burial

Dead body of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is being taken to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh for burial. Her dead body was brought by a C-130 flight to Sukkur Airport from where it was taken to Moenjodaro by helicopter. Along with the dead body of Benazir Bhutto, her husband Asif Ali Zardari, elder daughter Bakhtawar, younger daughter Asifa, son Bilawal, central leader of the PPP Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Shery Rehman and other persons arrived in Sukkur. Here, her corps was shifted to an army helicopter and taken to Larkana. Her dead body, her husband Asif Ali Zardari, all three children, Amin Fahim, Shery Rehman and other 22 persons were taken to Larkana by a bus along with police security. The helicopter left Sukkur for Moenjodaro Airport at 3-40 am. The dead body will be taken from the Moenjodaro Airport to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh by ambulance.

US calls for calm and elections in Pakistan

The United States appealed for calm and urged its "war on terror" ally Pakistan to press on with its elections after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Condemning the "cowardly" suicide attack that killed her, US President George W. Bush urged Pakistanis Thursday "to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life." The attack at an election rally in the Pakistani city Rawalpindi sparked deadly riots and fears for stability in the nuclear-armed country, as well as overshadowing next month's planned elections, which Bhutto had been tipped to win. Bush telephoned President Pervez Musharraf to discuss the situation, the White House said, while US officials appealed for calm in Pakistan amid deadly riots following Bhutto's murder. "The US strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," Bush told reporters.

Benazir's body arrives for burial in family graveyard

The body of slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in southern Sindh province before dawn Friday for burial in the family's graveyard, party officials said. The plane landed in Sukkur from where the body and members of her family were flown by helicopter to Naudero, her spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Agencies. Her husband Asif Zardari, their three children and some senior leaders of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) travelled on the plane. Bhutto will be buried in the ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh near the grave of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Babar said. Her family members and close relatives will have a last glimpse of the body before funeral prayers scheduled for noon (0130 PM), he said. Security was tight in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh as thousands of her party members and supporters were expected to attend the burial ceremony. Caravans of her supporters are expected to arrive from several towns in Sindh, which is considered a PPP stronghold, party officials said.