Bhutto's party insists on UN inquiry

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Tuesday said that probe by the United Nations could unearth the "hidden hands" behind former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

PPP central spokesperson Sherry Rehman told a news conference in Bhutto's home town of Naudero in southern Pakistan that Bhutto herself had said that some elements with links to extremist groups were behind efforts to kill her.

"She wrote a letter to President Pervez Musharraf on Oct. 16, two days before Bhutto's return to Pakistan, in which she had indicated these groups and given some names," Rehman said.

She said that a friendly foreign country had also provided the information on these groups and individuals. She added that whoever killed Bhutto was the criminal.

"But we want the hidden hands behind the assassination to be exposed," she said.

Rehman said the conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Pakistan and the enemies wanted to break up the party and destabilize the country by killing Bhutto but the party leaders had foiled their designs.

She said the PPP's request for a probe had reached the UN but this "is a long process." A UN-led inquiry is "necessary not only for the PPP and Bhutto's family but for the whole of Pakistan," she said.

Bhutto's assassination was a "grave violation of a basic fundamental right which can be taken up by the UN," she said. The PPP would continue with this demand for a UN probe "as long as it takes," said the spokesperson.

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A teenager suspected to be a member of a squad of suicide bombers who killed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has identified the main bomber who blew himself near her car, local TV channels reported on Tuesday.

The interior ministry confirmed that a 15-year-old boy named Aitzaz Shah had been arrested in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan last week. He confessed that he was a member of the back-up group of suicide bombers who killed Bhutto. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani authorities have arrested more suspects in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on a tip from a detained suspect, a senior official said on Saturday.

A 15-year-old boy Aitzaz Shah was arrested from the northwestern city of Dera Islamil Khan earlier this week, who had reportedly told the investigators that he was part of a back-up group who attacked Benazir Bhutto. Full story

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Members of al-Qaida and allies of Pakistani tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud were responsible for last month's assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, CIA director Michael V. Hayden said Friday.

The conclusion of the CIA was revealed by Hayden in an interview with the Washington Post published Friday.