A SUICIDE bomber has killed Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto today.

A SUICIDE bomber has killed Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto today.

Ms Bhutto was killed by a blast as she left a public rally in Rawalpindi.

The explosion also killed at least 20 other people.

Ms Bhutto had been in Rawalpindi for a speech in the run-up to Pakistan's parliamentary elections which were due on January 8.

The news sent shockwaves through the Asian community in Suffolk, many of whom saw Ms Bhutto as a vital figure for the whole Indian Sub-Continent.

Ipswich-based businessman Mohammed Abid, who is originally from Pakistan, was shocked when the Evening Star broke the news to him.

He said: “This is dreadful news. I know Benazir Bhutto had been warned away from going to Rawalpindi last month, but this is appalling.

“I am not a supporter of the Pakistan People's Party (Ms Bhutto's party) but this is very bad news for the country and democracy.”

Many of the Asian community in the Ipswich and Suffolk area were originally from Bangladesh which broke away from Pakistan in 1971 when Ms Bhutto's father was prime minister.

Manik Miah, who now runs the Maharani restaurant in Ipswich, said: “This is a tragedy for the whole Indian sub-continent.

“Benazir Bhutto was a very important figure for the whole region. All of us here today are shaking at this news. It is absolutely dreadful.”