Washington: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has hailed Pakistan's slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as a "champion for democracy," urging that reform in the volatile country continue.

"This is a day of great tragedy, great mourning. She was a champion for democracy. She was a courageous woman," Rice said, yesterday, after signing a book of condolence for Bhutto at Pakistan's embassy in Washington.

The former premier, a popular opposition leader, was killed in a suicide bombing on Thursday as she campaigned for next month's elections.

"The way to honour her memory is to continue the democratic process in Pakistan so that the democracy that she so hoped for can emerge," Rice said.

She did not comment on whether the vote should still be held on January 8 as scheduled. "We are in contact with people in Pakistan, all of the parties," she said. "But obviously, it's just very important that the democratic process go forward."

Source : PTI