Pakistan orders banks, businesses, schools closed

The schools, businesses and banks have been closed down after violence broke out following Bhutto's assassination.

Pakistan ordered all schools, businesses and banks to close down for three days beginning Friday after violence broke out following the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

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"All government and private educational institutions, all business and commercial centres and all banks throughout the country shall remain closed for three days with immediate effect," the interior ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, President Pervez Musharraf held an emergency meeting with top officials at the presidency, the information ministry said.

"The president directed the security agencies to take all possible steps to maintain law and order in the country," it said.