The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke on Friday afternoon to President Pervez Musharraf and encouraged him to stick to the course he has outlined to build democracy and stability in Pakistan in the wake of the assassination of Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
According to the transcript released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Brown said: "I have just spoken again to President Musharraf. I passed on my condolences, and those of the British people, following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and many of her supporters yesterday."
"This was a cowardly terrorist act designed to destabilise democratic elections. The international community is united in its outrage and determination that those who stoop to such tactics shall not prevail. I therefore encouraged President Musharraf to stick to the course he has outlined to build democracy and stability in Pakistan. This deadly attack is also a potent reminder of the threat we face from terror. Pakistan is a major ally in the global effort to combat this menace. I told President Musharraf that the UK is prepared to sustain and build the already significant counter-terrorism support we offer his country, not least in the effort to destroy al Qaida."