The breaking news of the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was first reported by the U.S. cable news channels at 7:21amET by CNN. Fox News was next 7:24 and MSNBC third at 7:29.

Confirmation of her death would come later. In fact, some of the first reports on the cable nets claimed Bhutto had already left the rally before the explosion and gunfire occurred.