Pakistani politicians face "looming threat"

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani political leaders face a looming threat of attack and must get serious about their security and avoid unnecessary exposure in the run-up to a February general election, the government said on Tuesday.

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi on December 27.

Campaigning for the parliamentary elections, postponed to February 18 from January 8 after Bhutto was killed, has yet to get going again but is expected to pick up after a Muslim religious commemoration on January 19 and 20.

"It is of paramount importance that the political leadership is sensitized about the looming threat," Interior Ministry spokesman Javel Iqbal Cheema told a regular briefing.

The government has blamed al Qaeda-linked militants intent on destabilizing the nuclear-armed country for the attack on Bhutto and a string of suicide blasts that have killed hundreds of people in recent months.

Cheema said the authorities aimed to provide "foolproof" security for all political leaders but said they too had to act responsibly, and the Interior Ministry was issuing security guidelines.

Recommendations included avoiding unnecessary exposure, keeping travel plans unpredictable and holding small election meetings.

"Big rallies should be avoided as far as possible," Cheema said.

"Unnecessary exposure during slow movement of vehicles should be avoided," he said.

Bhutto was attacked as she stood up through the sunroof of her armored land cruiser to wave to supporters just outside her rally venue.

A gunman fired at least three shots at her moments before a bomb blast that killed more than 20 bystanders.

Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, de facto leader of her political party, is demanding a U.N. investigation of her killing.

President Pervez Musharraf has asked British police to help with the investigation but he has ruled out a U.N. inquiry.

Separately, the military said a suicide bomber blew himself up at a paramilitary checkpost in the Mohmand tribal area in the northwest of the country on Tuesday when troops challenged him.

Another militant was shot dead at the same time. No troops were hurt.

(Editing by Robert Birsel and Jerry Norton)