Kathmandu, Dec 28 : Nepal has strongly condemned the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Nepal government and various political parties expressed deep sorrow at Bhutto's death and condemned the terrorist attack on the popular democratic leader, the Kantipur reported.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said he was shocked. Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan termed Bhutto's death as an attempt to kill democracy.

In a statement, Nepali Congress (NC) said the assassination of a leader fighting for strengthening democracy in Pakistan was an act of cowardice as well as an attack on democracy and human rights.

Various parties, including the CPN-UML and communist parties have condemned the murder.

The CPN-UML said the elements trying to instigate instability in the South-Asian region could have been behind Bhutto's assassination.

Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi in Pakistan on Thursday evening while she was returning from an election rally. (ANI)