US denounces Bhutto parade attacks

WASHINGTON—The United States on Thursday denounced deadly attacks on former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade and said the blasts would not derail the country's coming elections.
"The United States condemns the violent attack in Pakistan and mourns the loss of innocent life there," White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said after two bomb blasts.
"Extremists will not be allowed to stop Pakistanis from selecting their representatives through an open and democratic process," Johndroe said.
Senior Karachi police officer Javed Ali told foreign news agency that in two massive explosions near Bhutto's vehicle at least 20 of the dead were policemen who were in three police vans that were completely destroyed by the attack. Many of the injured are still in a critical condition," he added.