At least 138 people were killed and 200 wounded in a suicide bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Karachi last night.
The blast targeted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and occurred as Ms Bhutto was driven through the city to greet supporters on her return from eight years in exile.
She was quickly escorted away from the truck that had been carrying her from the airport through streets crowded with hundreds of thousands of well-wishers.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has condemned the attack, describing it as a conspiracy against democracy.
Militants linked to al-Qaeda, angered by Ms Bhutto's support for the US war on terrorism, had this week threatened to assassinate her.
About 20,000 security personnel had been deployed to protect Ms Bhutto on her return, and it is understood authorities had urged her party to wind up the procession sooner.
