(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-28 20:07

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued an order Friday morning that the national flag be flown at half mast across the country and abroad for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, said a statement from the presidential office.

The Afghan national flag will be flown at half mast for 24 hours starting from Saturday at 08:30 a.m.(GMT0400) as a mark of respect for the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party and former prime minister, and sympathy with the people of Pakistan, the statement said.

Bhutto was killed in a terroristic attack in Rawalpindi of Pakistan Thursday evening.

Hamid Karzai held an emergent press conference after Bhutto's death and said that the tragic death of Mrs Bhutto is an immense loss for Pakistan and the Muslim world.

Hamid Karzai, on behalf of the people of Afghanistan, also expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences to members of Bhutto's family and to the people of Pakistan.