Malaysia today condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, describing it as a "cruel act" and said the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

"I feel very shocked to hear the news that Benazir Bhutto has been killed while campaigning for the elections in Pakistan," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement.

"I strongly condemn this cruel act which also killed many innocent people," he added.

Bhutto, 54, a two-time former prime minister and head of Pakistan's most powerful political party, was shot yesterday in the neck by her attacker before he blew himself up at a political rally in Rawalpindi, killing at least 20 people.

Abdullah said extremism and violence was unacceptable and could not be tolerated, adding that the "perpetrators must be brought to justice."

Urging the people of Pakistan to remain calm amid the violence that followed Bhutto's killing, the prime minister said he hoped the situation in the country would stabilise.