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Pakistan's Bhutto Blames Attack on Militants

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is blaming militants for trying to kill her.

A suicide bomber blew himself up near her motorcade Thursday, killing more than 130 people. Bhutto was returning to the country after eight years of self-imposed exile.

Bhutto she knew her convoy would be attacked, but was willing to accept the risk.

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Still, she has called for an investigation into why the street lights were not on leading up to the attack.

Says her party officials were worried about the darkened street lights and her security guards used flood lights to scan the crowd during her procession.

The blast dented her armored truck and shattered windows. Bhutto says her convoy was also shot at.

Bhutto says the attack wasn't on her, but on what she represents — democracy, and the unity and integrity of Pakistan.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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