(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-28 00:27

BRUSSELS -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso expressed on Thursday his dismay at the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party and condemned the attack.

"I learned with dismay of the assassination of Mrs Benazir Bhutto, Chair of the Pakistan People's Party, today in Rawalpindi," Barroso said in a statement.

The European Commission condemns "this callous terrorist attack " perpetrated less than two weeks ahead of election day in the strongest terms, Barroso added. "This is an attack against democracy and against Pakistan."

"We send our condolences to the family of Mrs Bhutto and to the family of the other victims. We hope that Pakistan will remain firmly on track for a return to democratic civilian rule." he said.

Bhutto, former Pakistani prime minister, was declared dead by doctors at a hospital in Rawalpindi at 6:16 p.m. local time after the attack Thursday, in which at least a dozen more were killed.

The EU has sent a Limited Electoral Observation Mission headed by Michael Gabler, a member of the European Parliament, who is currently in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan.