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(LIP-ir) -- Peru's President Alan Garcia condemned today the assassination of Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto and ordered to have Peru's national flag at half mast at the Government Palace.

The president received the news of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in his office today and requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send an official letter to Pakistan expressing his condemnation of the murder.

President Garcia also sent his condolences to Benazir Bhutto’s family as well as Pakistan’s people

Benazir Bhutto was an active member of the Socialist International and a close friend of President Garcia. She was assassinated Thursday by an attacker who shot her after a campaign rally and then blew himself up.

At least 20 others were killed in the attack during the rally for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections, where the 54-year-old former prime minister had just spoken.

At least another nine people were killed across the country in rioting that broke out in the aftermath of the assassination, reported AP.

At the hospital where Bhutto died, some supporters smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, whom they blamed for not ensuring her safety.

Musharraf blamed Islamic extremists for her death and said he would redouble his efforts to fight them.

News source: ANDINA