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Bhutto visits ancestral village Bhutto visits ancestral village
(about 3 hours later)
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has visited her ancestral village near Larkana in southern Sindh province, amid heavy security.Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has visited her ancestral village near Larkana in southern Sindh province, amid heavy security.
It was her first public trip outside Karachi since nearly 140 people were killed in an assassination attempt. It was her first trip outside Karachi since nearly 140 people were killed in an assassination attempt last week.
The attack came within hours of her arrival in Pakistan last week after eight years of self-imposed exile. The attack came within hours of her arrival in Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile.
At her home village, Ms Bhutto prayed at the tomb of her executed father, former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.At her home village, Ms Bhutto prayed at the tomb of her executed father, former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
At her home village of Garhi Khuda Baksh, Ms Bhutto was greeted by about 4,000 supporters who chanted "Long Live Bhutto" and cheered as Ms Bhutto arrived in a bullet-proof vehicle. Ms Bhutto was greeted by about 4,000 supporters who chanted "Long Live Bhutto" and cheered as she arrived in a bullet-proof vehicle after driving from the nearby city of Sukkur.
Earlier, her convoy to Karachi airport, from where she flew to Sukkur, had a strong police escort. Side roads along the route were sealed off. It's so moving for me to finally be here and to be able to pray at his grave Benazir Bhutto class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7065238.stm">In pictures: Bhutto visits father's tomb
Ms Bhutto said she wanted to save democracy in Pakistan At the mausoleum, she offered prayers at the grave of her father, reading from the Koran and spreading flower petals.
"It's a long time since I've been here and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to put my feet on my homeland once again, to see the love of my people," Bhutto said aboard the plane before it landed in Sukkur, Reuters said. "It's so moving for me to finally be here and to be able to pray at his grave and the grave of my young brothers who lost their lives in the prime of their youth.
"This has strengthened me to do what I can to save Pakistan by saving democracy, which is so essential to giving people safety, security and better prospects," she said. "My father used to say that the people of Pakistan are my political heirs -- they are my sons and daughters," she said.
Dozens of activists from the PPP, armed with AK-47s, have been guarding her father's tomb. Dozens of activists from Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), some armed with AK-47s, guarded her father's tomb and kept away crowds in order to prevent a repeat of the bombings in Karachi.
The activists cordoned off the area near the tomb and refused access even to police, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Activists cordoned off the area near the tomb and refused access even to police, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Democracy call Larkana, where the Bhutto family are large landowners, is Ms Bhutto's power base, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.
Larkana, where the Bhutto family are large landowners, is Ms Bhutto's seat of power, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. As part of a large landowning family, the bedrock of her support is impoverished peasants who expect to benefit from her return, our correspondent says.
She will want to hold some kind of public rally, but after her homecoming parade was torn apart by bombs on 18 October it is not certain she will be able to, says our correspondent.
Ms Bhutto has vowed to stay in Pakistan despite the attack and campaign in the parliamentary election scheduled to be held by January.Ms Bhutto has vowed to stay in Pakistan despite the attack and campaign in the parliamentary election scheduled to be held by January.
"People are just being butchered and it has to stop, somebody has to find a solution and my solution is let's restore democracy," she told a news conference before leaving Karachi.
"Let's give the people education, let's give the people empowerment, let's give the people employment."
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf granted Ms Bhutto an amnesty from corruption charges that allowed her to return to Pakistan.Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf granted Ms Bhutto an amnesty from corruption charges that allowed her to return to Pakistan.
She has been negotiating with Gen Musharraf over a possible power-sharing deal.She has been negotiating with Gen Musharraf over a possible power-sharing deal.