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Bhutto killing blamed on al-Qaeda Bhutto killing blamed on al-Qaeda
(10 minutes later)
Pakistan says it has intelligence that al-Qaeda assassinated opposition politician Benazir Bhutto at an election rally on Thursday.Pakistan says it has intelligence that al-Qaeda assassinated opposition politician Benazir Bhutto at an election rally on Thursday.
Citing what it said was an intercepted phone call, the interior ministry said the killing had been ordered by "al-Qaeda leader" Baitullah Mehsud.Citing what it said was an intercepted phone call, the interior ministry said the killing had been ordered by "al-Qaeda leader" Baitullah Mehsud.
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says it is too early to establish the truth of what happened.The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says it is too early to establish the truth of what happened.
Ms Bhutto has been buried in her family tomb amid scenes of mass grieving.Ms Bhutto has been buried in her family tomb amid scenes of mass grieving.
Video of her last moments before the attack in Rawalpindi was shown at the news conference given in Islamabad by the interior ministry.Video of her last moments before the attack in Rawalpindi was shown at the news conference given in Islamabad by the interior ministry.
According to the interior ministry, the primary cause of Ms Bhutto's death appears to have been a knock on her head as she tried to duck her attacker, and not bullets or shrapnel.
Pakistani security forces are on high alert, with at least 19 people killed in protests by Bhutto supporters across the country since the assassination.Pakistani security forces are on high alert, with at least 19 people killed in protests by Bhutto supporters across the country since the assassination.
'Knock on the head'
Addressing reporters, ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the primary cause of Ms Bhutto's death appeared to have been a knock on her head as she tried to duck her attacker, and not bullets or shrapnel.
Search for stability continuesShock in home provincePress mourns Bhutto
A surgeon who treated her, Dr Mussadiq Khan, had earlier said she may have died from a shrapnel wound while Ms Bhutto's security adviser, Rehman Malik, said she had been shot in the neck and chest.
Brig Cheema added that all possible security arrangements had been put in place for Ms Bhutto.
Her supporters say the government did not do enough to protect her.
After a previous attempt on her life in October, Ms Bhutto accused rogue elements of the Pakistani intelligence services of involvement.
Conflicting versionsConflicting versions
Baitullah Mehsud is a tribal leader in Pakistan's South Waziristan region.Baitullah Mehsud is a tribal leader in Pakistan's South Waziristan region.
Pakistan is at the brink of civil war, courtesy of the dictatorship Dr Rubab Ahmed, London href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=3985&edition=2&ttl=20071227152602&#paginator">Have your say class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162403.stm">Bhutto in her own words href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162849.stm">Search for stability continues class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7163063.stm">Shock in home province class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7162639.stm">Press mourns Bhutto
Pakistani intelligence services had intercepted a call from him in which he allegedly congratulated another militant after Ms Bhutto's death, Brig Cheema said. Pakistani intelligence services intercepted a call from him in which he allegedly congratulated another militant after Ms Bhutto's death, interior ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters.
There was, he added, "irrefutable evidence that al-Qaeda, its networks and cohorts were trying to destabilise Pakistan".There was, he added, "irrefutable evidence that al-Qaeda, its networks and cohorts were trying to destabilise Pakistan".
Talking about the cause of Ms Bhutto's death, the spokesman said she had died from a head wound.
It was, he said, sustained when she smashed her head against the sunroof's lever as she tried to shelter inside the car from the gunman, who set off a bomb after opening fire with a gun.
There have now been so many conflicting versions coming out of Pakistan of how Benazir Bhutto died and who sent the assassin that it is hard for anyone to build up an accurate picture, our security correspondent says.There have now been so many conflicting versions coming out of Pakistan of how Benazir Bhutto died and who sent the assassin that it is hard for anyone to build up an accurate picture, our security correspondent says.
Both al-Qaeda and the Taleban are perfectly plausible culprits since they hated everything the secular Ms Bhutto stood for, he adds.Both al-Qaeda and the Taleban are perfectly plausible culprits since they hated everything the secular Ms Bhutto stood for, he adds.
But critics of President Pervez Musharraf are unlikely to be convinced by his government's insistence that it has proof al-Qaeda ordered the murder.But critics of President Pervez Musharraf are unlikely to be convinced by his government's insistence that it has proof al-Qaeda ordered the murder.
'Knock on the head'
Brig Cheema said Ms Bhutto had smashed her head against a lever of her car's sun roof.
Pakistan is at the brink of civil war, courtesy of the dictatorship Dr Rubab Ahmed, London Have your sayBhutto in her own words
She was, he said, trying to shelter inside the car from the gunman, who set off a bomb after opening fire with a gun.
A surgeon who treated her, Dr Mussadiq Khan, said earlier she may have died from a shrapnel wound while Ms Bhutto's security adviser, Rehman Malik, said she had been shot in the neck and chest.
Brig Cheema added that all possible security arrangements had been put in place for Ms Bhutto.
Her supporters say the government did not do enough to protect her.
After a previous attempt on her life in October, Ms Bhutto accused rogue elements of the Pakistani intelligence services of involvement.
UnrestUnrest
Ms Bhutto was buried next to her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the family mausoleum near their home village, Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in Sindh Province.Ms Bhutto was buried next to her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the family mausoleum near their home village, Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, in Sindh Province.
Rioters in Peshawar shouted slogans against President MusharrafRioters in Peshawar shouted slogans against President Musharraf
Many supporters are blaming the government of President Musharraf, not militants, for Ms Bhutto's killing.Many supporters are blaming the government of President Musharraf, not militants, for Ms Bhutto's killing.
Rioting and unrest has been reported across the country since her death.Rioting and unrest has been reported across the country since her death.
    • Six bodies were found among the remains of a factory set on fire in Karachi
    • Six bodies were found among the remains of a factory set on fire in Karachi
    • At least one passenger train was set ablaze in Sindh Province and a number of railway stations were reportedly burnt as security forces in the province were ordered to shoot rioters on sight
    • At least one passenger train was set ablaze in Sindh Province and a number of railway stations were reportedly burnt as security forces in the province were ordered to shoot rioters on sight
    • The office of a pro-government party was ransacked and set ablaze in Peshawar
    • The office of a pro-government party was ransacked and set ablaze in Peshawar
    • In the city of Multan in Punjab province, a mob ransacked seven banks and torched a petrol station
    • In the city of Multan in Punjab province, a mob ransacked seven banks and torched a petrol station
      • Other cities across Pakistan are at a virtual standstill.Other cities across Pakistan are at a virtual standstill.
      Schools, businesses and transport are all closed, and people are reluctant to step out during the three days of national mourning declared by President Pervez Musharraf.Schools, businesses and transport are all closed, and people are reluctant to step out during the three days of national mourning declared by President Pervez Musharraf.
      Election questionsElection questions
      Plans for a general election on 8 January, for which Ms Bhutto had been campaigning when she was killed, remain unchanged, the government says.Plans for a general election on 8 January, for which Ms Bhutto had been campaigning when she was killed, remain unchanged, the government says.
      BENAZIR BHUTTO Father led Pakistan before being executed in 1979Spent five years in prisonServed as PM from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996Sacked twice by president on corruption chargesFormed alliance with rival ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2006Ended self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan in OctoberEducated at Harvard and Oxford Obituary: Benazir BhuttoLife in picturesBENAZIR BHUTTO Father led Pakistan before being executed in 1979Spent five years in prisonServed as PM from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996Sacked twice by president on corruption chargesFormed alliance with rival ex-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2006Ended self-imposed exile by returning to Pakistan in OctoberEducated at Harvard and Oxford Obituary: Benazir BhuttoLife in pictures
      The election is meant to pave the way for a return to democratic rule, suspended in October 1999 when the then Gen Musharraf seized power through a coup.The election is meant to pave the way for a return to democratic rule, suspended in October 1999 when the then Gen Musharraf seized power through a coup.
      But opposition parties are now against the election taking the place and it is hard to see how they it would be a true test of the democratic process, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani reports.  But opposition parties are now against the election taking the place and it is hard to see how they it would be a true test of the democratic process, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani reports.  
      Ms Bhutto returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October, following an amnesty agreed with President Musharraf.Ms Bhutto returned from eight years of self-imposed exile in October, following an amnesty agreed with President Musharraf.
      Shortly after her return, she survived a double bomb attack on her convoy in Karachi which killed more than 130 peopleShortly after her return, she survived a double bomb attack on her convoy in Karachi which killed more than 130 people
      She accused rogue elements of the Pakistani intelligence services of involvement.She accused rogue elements of the Pakistani intelligence services of involvement.