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World leaders reacted with shock and condemnation Thursday to the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The opposition leader died after a suicide bombing at a rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

"I am deeply shocked by news of the latest attack in Rawalpindi which has claimed the life of Benazir Bhutto and killed at least 15 other people," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a written statement. Bhutto "knew the risks of her return to campaign but was convinced that her country needed her."

Miliband called for restraint and unity in the former British colony. VideoWatch how Bhutto's political life was filled with turmoil "

President Bush, vacationing at his Texas ranch, has been "informed about the situation in Pakistan," said the White House, which offered no other immediate comment. "We condemn the acts of violence which took place today in Pakistan," said a spokesman. The president was expected to make a televised statement on the assassination at 11 a.m. ET.

In Washington, the State Department also condemned the attack, according to The Associated Press. "It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy," said deputy spokesman Tom Casey, AP reported.

For months, the Bush administration has been encouraging Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to work out a compromise with his political opponents, including the popular Bhutto. The former prime minister's party is widely expected to do well in next month's elections.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called her death a terror attack.

"We strongly condemn this terrorist act, present our condolences to the family and friends of Benazir Bhutto and hope that Pakistani authorities will provide for national stability," said Russian ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly expressed concern that the Pakistani government "must do its best to ensure the maximum stability in the election period and prevent terrorist acts against Benazir Bhutto and other political leaders," said the Kamynin statement.

France called assassination an "odious act," according to the French Press Agency.

The rally bombing took place as Bhutto campaigned for a third term as prime minister in parliamentary elections set for January 8.

It was the second recent attack on Bhutto after she defied death threats and returned to her homeland from eight years of self-imposed exile. On October 18, a suicide bomber targeted her motorcade in Karachi, killing 136 people. Bhutto was unhurt in the attack.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and called for the country to unite.

"The UAE has been tormented by this huge loss, which did not hit Pakistan only, but also affected the UAE," Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency.

"Words fail to express our condemnation of this criminal act and our pain for the loss of Benazir Bhutto," he said, calling on the Pakistani people to "unite and put their differences aside.

The UAE was Bhutto's home during her eight years in exile and her family had remained in Dubai after her return to Pakistan in October.

Meanwhile Iran on Thursday comdemned the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and urged the authorities to track down the "terrorists" responsible for killing the former Pakistani prime minister.

"The criminal action on Thursday in Rawalpindi is strongly condemned," said foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini after the sucicide attack in Iran's southeastern neighbour, according to the website of state television.

"The Pakistan government should use all efforts to identify the terrorist group which caused this incident and punish them to prevent terrorist groups from finding opportunities to undertake such actions again," he added.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi condemned the "fanaticism" that caused the death of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto Thursday and called for "the difficult path to peace" to continue.

"I express my sadness and that of the whole government following the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto, a woman who wanted to fight her battle until the end with just one weapon-that of dialogue and political discussion," Prodi said in a statement.

"The difficult path towards peace and democracy in this region should not be abandoned and the sacrifice of the former prime minister t should be the strongest example for those who do not give up in the face of terrorism."

Japan on Thursday strongly condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, calling the attack "absolutely unacceptable."

"Japan condemns the attack," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said after hearing the news on Bhutto's death. "It is absolutely unacceptable to try to solve something by the means of violence."

"I express my condolence from my heart," he told public broadcaster NHK.

"I strongly hope that Pakistan will pave the way toward democratisation by holding fair elections," he said.