Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a horrific suicide bomb attack today.

Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a horrific suicide bomb attack today.

She was shot in the head and neck as she got into her car after addressing a rally. The gunman then blew himself up, killing at least another 20 people.

Ms Bhutto, twice the country's prime minister, was rushed to hospital in Rawalpindi.

News of her death was released by party member Wasif Ali Khan, who said simply: "At 6:16pm she expired.

A senior military official confirmed that Ms Bhutto, 54, had died, along with at least another 20 people.

Her supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog," referring to Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf.

Some of them smashed the glass door at the main entrance of the emergency unit, others burst into tears.

Ms Bhutto had just addressed thousands of people in a public park as part of her campaign for the country's parliamentary elections due on January 8.

A spokesman for her party said her vehicle was yards away from the blast. He said: "She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound. We could feel its impact."

Party supporter Chaudry Nazir said two shots rang out when Ms Bhutto's vehicle pulled into the street and then there was a big blast.

Police cordoned off the street and rescue workers rushed to put victims in ambulances as people wailed nearby.

Amid horrific scenes, body parts, pieces of clothing and party banners were scattered on the street. The clothing of some victims was shredded and people put party flags over their bodies. Police caps and shoes littered the area.

Earlier, hundreds of riot police had manned security checkpoints to guard the venue. It was Ms Bhutto's first public meeting in Rawalpindi since she came back to the country.

Rahman Malik, Ms Bhutto's security adviser, said: "She was the prime target. We had information that Benazir Bhutto's life was in danger."

The killing sparked fears the nuclear-armed country could be plunged into civil war. Riaz Malik, of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party warned: "The impact will be Pakistan is in more turmoil. It will be the start of civil war in Pakistan."

Rescue teams lift one man away from the scene of the blast which followed Benazir Bhutto's assassination