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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| UK to assist Bhutto investigation | UK to assist Bhutto investigation |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has said UK investigators are to assist in the inquiry into the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. | Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has said UK investigators are to assist in the inquiry into the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. |
| In a televised address, he said UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown had agreed to send a team of detectives from London to help establish what happened. | In a televised address, he said UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown had agreed to send a team of detectives from London to help establish what happened. |
| He said "terrorists" were behind the murder, and described Ms Bhutto's death as a "great tragedy" for the nation. | He said "terrorists" were behind the murder, and described Ms Bhutto's death as a "great tragedy" for the nation. |
| Elections set for next week in Pakistan have been postponed until 18 February. | Elections set for next week in Pakistan have been postponed until 18 February. |
| Mr Musharraf said too much damage had been done to polling stations and voter papers during the unrest in the wake of Ms Bhutto's assassination last Thursday. | Mr Musharraf said too much damage had been done to polling stations and voter papers during the unrest in the wake of Ms Bhutto's assassination last Thursday. |
| Murder inquiry questions Successors' challengeReaders react to succession | Murder inquiry questions Successors' challengeReaders react to succession |
| He said "miscreants and political elements" had taken advantage of the situation - "looting, burning and killing". | He said "miscreants and political elements" had taken advantage of the situation - "looting, burning and killing". |
| "Election commission offices, their centres, polling stations and their equipment were all damaged and destroyed. Hence the election commission was facing a big difficulty to hold these elections [on 8 January]," he said. | "Election commission offices, their centres, polling stations and their equipment were all damaged and destroyed. Hence the election commission was facing a big difficulty to hold these elections [on 8 January]," he said. |
| Mr Musharraf said he was setting up a commission to identify who was responsible for the widespread violence, in which at least 47 people have died. | Mr Musharraf said he was setting up a commission to identify who was responsible for the widespread violence, in which at least 47 people have died. |
| At the same time, the president promised free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections. | At the same time, the president promised free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections. |
| He called for reconciliation rather than confrontation in the run-up to the polls, and said troops and paramilitary soldiers would ensure law and order during this time. | He called for reconciliation rather than confrontation in the run-up to the polls, and said troops and paramilitary soldiers would ensure law and order during this time. |
| 'Bhutto legacy' | 'Bhutto legacy' |
| The 30-minute speech was Mr Musharraf's first major public address since Ms Bhutto's death. | The 30-minute speech was Mr Musharraf's first major public address since Ms Bhutto's death. |
| Mr Musharraf referred to "the pain and anger" of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), especially in her home province of Sindh. | Mr Musharraf referred to "the pain and anger" of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), especially in her home province of Sindh. |
| This is a very significant investigation - all the confusion that has been created in the nation must be resolved President Musharraf | This is a very significant investigation - all the confusion that has been created in the nation must be resolved President Musharraf |
| He paid tribute to his political opponent, saying: "I also feel the same sadness and anger - I respect the sentiments of the nation." | He paid tribute to his political opponent, saying: "I also feel the same sadness and anger - I respect the sentiments of the nation." |
| He repeated official allegations that al-Qaeda was behind Ms Bhutto's killing, and urged the media to "expose" pro-Taleban militant leaders who, he said, were orchestrating suicide attacks in Pakistan. | He repeated official allegations that al-Qaeda was behind Ms Bhutto's killing, and urged the media to "expose" pro-Taleban militant leaders who, he said, were orchestrating suicide attacks in Pakistan. |
| He said new evidence was coming to light but that expert advice was needed, and he thanked the British prime minister for accepting his request for assistance. | He said new evidence was coming to light but that expert advice was needed, and he thanked the British prime minister for accepting his request for assistance. |
| Mr Musharraf says soldiers will keep law and order during elections"This is a very significant investigation. All the confusion that has been created in the nation must be resolved," Mr Musharraf said. | Mr Musharraf says soldiers will keep law and order during elections"This is a very significant investigation. All the confusion that has been created in the nation must be resolved," Mr Musharraf said. |
| The UK's Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed that it is to send a small team from its counter-terrorism branch to provide support in the Bhutto murder inquiry. | The UK's Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed that it is to send a small team from its counter-terrorism branch to provide support in the Bhutto murder inquiry. |
| In a statement, it said the officers would travel to Pakistan as soon as possible but that the Pakistani authorities would continue to lead the investigation. | In a statement, it said the officers would travel to Pakistan as soon as possible but that the Pakistani authorities would continue to lead the investigation. |
| Bhutto's legacy | Bhutto's legacy |
| Speaking shortly after the president's address, Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, welcomed Britain's involvement in the investigation into her killing, but he repeated earlier calls for a wider, UN inquiry. | Speaking shortly after the president's address, Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, welcomed Britain's involvement in the investigation into her killing, but he repeated earlier calls for a wider, UN inquiry. |
| Electoral posters and banners still hang from buildings in KarachiMs Bhutto's party has been demanding international assistance and has criticised government efforts as woefully inadequate. | |
| Mr Zardari confirmed the PPP would take part in the re-scheduled elections, saying: "It is the legacy of our leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to participate in elections, no matter what the circumstances." | Mr Zardari confirmed the PPP would take part in the re-scheduled elections, saying: "It is the legacy of our leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to participate in elections, no matter what the circumstances." |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says the PPP wanted elections as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of what could be a big sympathy vote. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says the PPP wanted elections as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of what could be a big sympathy vote. |
| The ruling PML-Q party had said the 8 January vote should be delayed for several weeks, on the grounds that the vote would "lose credibility" if held under current conditions. | The ruling PML-Q party had said the 8 January vote should be delayed for several weeks, on the grounds that the vote would "lose credibility" if held under current conditions. |
| The election is seen as a crucial move towards democratic rule under President Musharraf, an important ally in the US-led "war on terror" who stood down as army chief in November. | The election is seen as a crucial move towards democratic rule under President Musharraf, an important ally in the US-led "war on terror" who stood down as army chief in November. |