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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. | 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. | 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 only tenable cause... [is] impact due to the effects of the bomb blast Dr Nathaniel CaryBritish Home Office pathologist Scotland Yard report on Benazir Bhutto's assassination [163KB] Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Bhutto party fights for legacy | |
| 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, blowing himself up. | |
| "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. |
| The report said the evidence suggested there was only one attacker, not two, as had been speculated. | The report said the evidence suggested there was only one attacker, not two, as had been speculated. |
| Limited evidence | |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there may be some scepticism over the report, since there has been no post mortem on Bhutto's body, and the scene of the crime was hosed down within hours, compromising forensic evidence. | |
| Newspapers pictured the man who apparently shot at Benazir Bhutto | |
| However, the report said "the evidence that is available is sufficient for reliable conclusions to be drawn". | |
| Police reached their conclusions by studying TV footage of the assassination, and X-rays of the victim. | |
| An X-ray of Bhutto's head showed the only apparent injury was a major trauma to the right side of the head, the report said. | |
| It cited British Home Office pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary, who said: "The only tenable cause for the rapidly fatal head injury in this case is that it occurred as the result of impact due to the effects of the bomb blast." | |
| Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party said it was not convinced by British police conclusions. | 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. | "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. | "We do believe that she was killed by an assassin's bullet," she added. |
| Scotland Yard's "terms of reference were limited", she said, reiterating 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. |