Scores killed as blasts hit Bhutto convoy

Karachi: Experts are investigating why bomb jamming devices installed in the convoy of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto failed to work on Friday.

The death toll rose to 138, while the injured numbered to more than 500 in two major explosions that Bhutto's convoy, police and hospital sources told Gulf News.

Television channels said Bhutto was safe and had left the truck that had been transporting her through roads thronged by hundreds of thousands of people in Karachi.

Police continued to clear the area for dead bodies on Friday after the blasts that targetted Bhuto during her return to Pakistan after eight years in self-imposed exile.

Police said a suspected suicide bomber's head was found near the site of the blasts at Karsaz area in the port city. News channel ARY said one of its cameramen was among the dead.

• Audio: Benazir Bhutto talks about the threats which have been made to her (mp3)
• Audio: Benazir Bhutto talks about the deal with President Musharraf (mp3)
• Audio: Benazir Bhutto talks about the battle for hearts and minds (mp3)

The attack occurred shortly after midnight, and the blasts went off as the truck carrying Bhutto approached a parked car.
Senior Pakistan People's Party officials told Gulf News Bhutto was taking a rest inside the vehicle and was unhurt. Most of her bodyguards on top of the truck were killed.

"The first blast was caused by a hand grenade. The second was the suicide attack," said senior police officer Manzoor Mughal.

"The attacker ran into the crowd and blew himself up," Mughal said. Up to 20 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack, he said.

Most of the people who died were policemen and private security guards. Political analysts have called the attack one of the worst terror activities in Pakistan.

Although there was no claim of responsibility for the attack, the Pakistani government blamed Islamist militants. Police announced a five million rupees reward ($82,000) for information.

In Karachi, schools, shops and offices were closed on Friday, while hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside Bhutto's home to show support.