McAleese expresses sadness at Bhutto killing
President Mary McAleese has expressed her shock and sadness at the assassination of Pakistan’s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, earlier today.
"On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland, I send my deepest condolences to her family and to the people of Pakistan and especially to those members of the Pakistan community here in Ireland," she said.
"My deepest sympathy also to the families of those other people who were killed in this dreadful atrocity."
The Green Party has expressed its shock and revulsion at the assassination.
Green Party foreign affairs spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated: "Benazir Bhutto was the first ever Muslim woman to lead a Muslim country.
"She clearly understood the risks of returning to her homeland. Her death leaves a void in South Asian politics that will increase tensions in the region. Let us hope that the tragedy of her death will not fuel the fires of extremism in Pakistan and elsewhere.
"Our sympathies go to her husband Asif Ali Zardari and their three teenage children."
