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Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was at an election rally in city of Rawalpindi when police said a suicide bomber fired shots at her before blowing himself up. The 54-year-old former Prime Minister died in a hospital, after a gun shot to her head. Within hours, governments worldwide -- including Great Britain, Russia and the United Arab Emirates -- urged Pakistani leaders to work to maintain calm. U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the attacks with a stern message for those responsible..... SOUNDBITE: U.S. President George W. Bush saying (English): "The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice." Mr. Bush praised Bhutto's courage in returning to Pakistan in October to participate in elections aimed at restoring a democratic government after eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf. The assassination came less than two weeks before a Jan. 8 election she hoped to win. Now the fear is that Pakistan will erupt. James Carafano of the Heritage Foundation. SOUNDBITE: James Carafano, the Heritage Foundation, saying (English): "Pakistan has been thought a lot of chaotic political episodes in its history. There have been assassination attempts, assassinations, coups, so just because there is this kind of event does not mean Pakistan will melt down. How bad the political situation gets will depend on what Musharraf decides in the next few days." Analysts say President Musharraf, who stepped down as army chief of the nuclear-armed country two weeks ago, could seize the moment to reimpose emergency rule and cancel, or at least postpone, the upcoming parliamentary elections. Even if the elections go ahead, the process was thrown into further disarray after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, one of the main contenders, announced he would boycott the poll. SOUNDBITE: James Carafano, the Heritage Foundation, saying (English): "Much more important than the date of the election is there a clear political process going forward that brings stability to the country....the election without Bhutto, I am now sure what that would mean, there is not alternative voice to her right now you want to hear how they will move the political process forward." As the body of Bhutto left the hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan put its paramilitary forces on "red alert" across the country. And with Bhutto's assassination sparking violent protests throughout Pakistan, the UN Security Council met in an emergency session to discuss what steps it may take to help stabilize a potentially volatile and dangerous situation. Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.