Bhutto detained for unspecified period

Former premier Benazir Bhutto was today "put under detention for an unspecified period" after she tried to step out of her house to lead her Pakistan People's Party rally in Rawalpindi against the emergency imposed by President Pervez Musharraf.

Defying the government's order that she should not leave her house "for her own security", Bhutto left Zardari's house in the heart of the national capital at around 1:40 pm, but was stopped by policemen who had surrounded the house since early this morning. A magistrate served the detention order and she was taken back to the house.

Bhutto has been "put under detention for an unspecified period," according to officials quoted by Dawn news channel.

Earlier armoured cars and policemen in black riot gear cordoned off the Zardari House, the former prime minister's residence in the national capital and barricaded all streets leading to it with concrete blocks.