Pretoria — South Africa has condemned the assassination of Pakistan's former Prime Minister and politician Benazir Bhutto and other nationals during a rally held in that country.

According to certain media reports, as 54-year-old Ms Bhutto stood up to wave to supporters from the sun-roof of her bullet-proof vehicle, her attacker fired at her before blowing himself up.

She died in hospital in Rawalpindi, the home of the Pakistan army.

South African President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa condemns all forms of violence to promote political objectives, and in this regard South Africa reiterates its view that violence can only beget violence.

He appealed to all political parties and the people of Pakistan to remain calm during this period in its history and remain committed to the political processes towards elections.

South Africa joined the international community in reaching out in thought and prayer to the family of Ms Bhutto and to those who have lost their loved ones.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said South Africa also expresses its confidence that the authorities will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law.

Thousands of mourners crowded Ms Bhutto's ancestral home as her body arrived in a military aircraft, accompanied by her husband Asif Ali Zardari and their three children.

About 28 years ago, her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, also a former prime minister, was hanged in the same northern city where she was killed.

Ms Bhutto became the first democratically elected female prime minister in the Muslim world in 1988 at the age of 35.

In 1990, she was deposed and then re-elected in 1993. Ms Bhutto was ousted in 1996 amid charges of corruption, which she claimed were politically motivated.

Along with her husband, she is survived by a son, Bilawal, 19, and two daughters, Bakhtawar, 17, and Aseefa, 14.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage at the death, calling it a "heinous crime" in a statement on Thursday.

He called for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.

"[This] represents an assault on stability in Pakistan and its democratic process," Mr Ban said.

"While strongly urging calm and restraint to be maintained at this difficult time, I call on all Pakistanis to work together for peace and national unity," he added.

The Security Council made a similar appeal in a statement <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc9217.doc.htm> read out by Ambassador Marcello Spatafora of Italy, the country's President for December.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour also condemned the incident.

She expressed concern about the impact of the event on the upcoming elections and urged the government to ensure that all necessary protective mechanisms are in place to safeguard a free, fair and transparent electoral process.