Bush: Bhutto Assassinaton A "cowardly Act" By "murderous Extremists"

President Bush, while vacationing in Crawford, Texas, over the holidays, offered the following statement on former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination:

"[First lady] Laura [Bush] and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters. We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence. We send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occassion.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice.

Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as prime minister, and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. But she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country. We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."