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UK police say blast killed Bhutto | UK police say blast killed Bhutto |
(40 minutes later) | |
British detectives investigating the death of ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto say she died from the effect of a bomb blast, not gunfire. | British detectives investigating the death of ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto say she died from the effect of a bomb blast, not gunfire. |
Detectives from Scotland Yard were asked by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to examine the circumstances surrounding Bhutto's death in December. | Detectives from Scotland Yard were asked by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to examine the circumstances surrounding Bhutto's death in December. |
Pakistani authorities attributed her death to a suicide bomb blast, but Bhutto's family rejected that theory. | Pakistani authorities attributed her death to a suicide bomb blast, but Bhutto's family rejected that theory. |
And her party maintained on Friday that she was shot dead by an assassin. | |
TV pictures that emerged after Bhutto's death on 27 December appeared to show a gunman aiming a weapon at the Pakistani opposition leader as she stood through the sunroof of a vehicle during a rally in Rawalpindi. | |
The police report confirmed that shots were fired - but said they were not the cause of death. | The police report confirmed that shots were fired - but said they were not the cause of death. |
It said after discharging his firearm the attacker had detonated explosives. | It said after discharging his firearm the attacker had detonated explosives. |
"The blast caused a violent collision between her head and the escape hatch area of the vehicle, causing a severe and fatal head injury," said the report, signed by Detective Superintendent John MacBrayne. | "The blast caused a violent collision between her head and the escape hatch area of the vehicle, causing a severe and fatal head injury," said the report, signed by Detective Superintendent John MacBrayne. |
Newspapers pictured the man who apparently shot at Benazir Bhutto | |
The report said the evidence suggested there was only one attacker, not two, as had been speculated. | |
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party said it was not convinced by British police conclusions. | |
"The party is still looking at the Scotland Yard report - however, it is difficult to agree with its findings on the cause of death," spokeswoman Sherry Rehman said. | |
"We do believe that she was killed by an assassin's bullet," she added. | |
She reiterated calls for a United Nations inquiry into the killing. | |
Militant accused | Militant accused |
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials said on Thursday that they had detained two "suspected terrorists" over the murder. | Meanwhile, Pakistani officials said on Thursday that they had detained two "suspected terrorists" over the murder. |
Last month, police said they had arrested a teenage boy who confessed to being part of a team instructed to kill the opposition leader. | Last month, police said they had arrested a teenage boy who confessed to being part of a team instructed to kill the opposition leader. |
The unnamed 15-year-old was arrested in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province along with a more senior militant, officials say. | The unnamed 15-year-old was arrested in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province along with a more senior militant, officials say. |
But Pakistani newspapers said investigators are treating the boy's claims with caution. | But Pakistani newspapers said investigators are treating the boy's claims with caution. |
The boy had named a local militia commander, Baitullah Mehsud, as being behind the assassination, officials say. | The boy had named a local militia commander, Baitullah Mehsud, as being behind the assassination, officials say. |
Mr Mehsud has already been accused by the Pakistani authorities but denies any involvement. | Mr Mehsud has already been accused by the Pakistani authorities but denies any involvement. |
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency has also accused Mr Mehsud of ordering the assassination. | The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency has also accused Mr Mehsud of ordering the assassination. |