Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 3, 2008

Pakistan's PM Escapes Apparent Assassination Attempt
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Officials say shots have been fired at vehicle used for Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani's motorcade 
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (File)Pakistani officials
say shots have been fired at a vehicle used for Prime Minister Yousaf
Raza Gilani's motorcade. Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said the prime
minister was not in the car during Wednesday's apparent assassination
attempt near the capital, Islamabad. The motorcade was on its way to the
airport in the nearby city of Rawalpindi, to pick up Mr. Gilani, who was
returning from the eastern city of Lahore. The prime minister's
spokesman, Zahid Bashir, said two bullets hit a car in the motorcade,
cracking the windshield but not breaking the glass. Television pictures
showed two bullet marks on the black Mercedes. No one has claimed
responsibility for the attack. The shooting took place as Pakistan
prepares to hold presidential elections on Saturday. Gilani is a member
of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party. Bhutto's widower, Asif
Ali Zardari, is one of three candidates in the presidential election.
Ms. Bhutto was assassinated last December in a suicide gun and bomb
attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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