The UN Security Council denounced the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday as a "heinous act of terrorism" and called on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint.
"The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist suicide attack by extremists," said a formal statement read out by Italian Ambassador Marcello Spatafora, the current council president, after a special meeting.
"The Security Council pays tribute to former prime minister Bhutto. The Security Council calls on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country."