Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday that China was shocked at the assassination of Pakistan's opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and strongly condemns the terrorist attack.

"We also extend condolence to families of Bhutto and other victims," Qin said in a statement.

Bhutto was shot by her attacker before he blew himself up in a suicide bomb attack outside a campaign rally, police said.

Bhutto, 54, died in a hospital after a suspected suicide rocked her election rally at the Liaquat Bagh park in Rawalpindi, some 30km south from Islamabad.

The latest reports from the state-run PTV said at least ten people were killed in the blast.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)