(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-27 17:17

SUKKUR - Thousands of supporters greeted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as she flew to her stronghold in southern Pakistan on Saturday, days after an assassination attempt in Karachi that killed 139 people.

An armed man stands guard outside the mausoleum of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, father of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, where she is expected to visit in Larkana, 480 km (300 miles) north of Karachi, October 27, 2007. [Agencies]

Chanting "Prime Minister Benazir", the jubilant workers of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) forced their way into the terminal building at Sukkur airport as Bhutto's plane touched down.

Some even climbed trees waving red, green and black party flags.

"It's a long time since I've been here and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to put my feet on my homeland once again, to see the love of my people," Bhutto said aboard the plane before it touched down. She also recited Islamic verses.

"This has strengthened me to do what I can to save Pakistan by saving democracy, which is so essential to giving people safety, security and better prospects," she added, saying she now felt better about her security.

As she left the plane, Bhutto kissed a copy of the Koran and a man wrapped a traditional Sindhi shawl around her shoulders. She climbed into a jeep and waved at supporters who showered her with rose petals as she began the drive towards her native Larkana.

Supporters dressed in traditional shalwar kameez chased her convoy on foot.

"Ours is a bold leader. If she is not scared we are also not scared," said Imdad Chandio as he jostled with police.

Hundreds of police and paramilitary troops were deployed at Sukkur airport for Bhutto's first foray outside Karachi since last week's attack marred her return to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile.

At least one suicide bomber, possibly two, attacked her convoy in Karachi as it travelled slowly through a crowd of hundreds of thousands of supporters.

From Sukkur, she will head overland to the village of Garhi Khuda Baksh, near the town of Larkana, to pray at the tomb of her father, which was being guarded by dozens of workers from her supporters wielding AK-47s.

Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan's first popularly elected prime minister, was toppled and later hanged by the military in 1979.

SUPPORTERS DEFIANT

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