Sonia Gandhi speaks to Bhutto after blasts

The Cong president expresses deep anguish over the loss of innocent lives in the blasts that rocked Pakistan.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sarurday spoke with former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto over phone, expressing shock and concern over the attack on her convoy and noting that the cult of violence and hatred has to be eradicated with unity of purpose.

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Gandhi expressed her deep anguish over the loss of large number of innocent lives in the blast that also left hundreds injured, AICC media department Chairman M Veerappa Moily said in a statement in the Capital.

The Congress chief said she was relieved that Bhutto and her family members had a miraculous escape in the attack and wished her well.

She also wished all those injured in the blast a speedy recovery. "The Congress President felt that forces of terror and violence possess great potential threat to democracy and civilised society," the statement said.

Gandhi said it was the duty of all countries to resolutely work against these forces of destabilisation and destruction. "The cult of hatred and violence has to be eradicated with unity of purpose by everyone concerned," she was quoted as saying.