Bhutto suspects 'confess to role'

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Two men arrested in connection with the murder of ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto have confessed to helping her attacker, police have said.

The head of the investigation, Chaudhry Abdul Majid, said they had confessed to giving a bomb vest and a pistol to the suicide bomber identified as Bilal.

Husnan Gul and his cousin, Rufukat, made their confessions in front of a magistrate in Rawalpindi, he added.

Last week, UK detectives said Bhutto died from the effect of the bomb blast.

Their account matched that of the Pakistani authorities, who were accused of a cover-up by Bhutto's party following her death on 27 December.

The report also said the evidence suggested that only one person had launched the attack at the election rally, not two, as had been speculated.

'Revenge'

Announcing what he called a "major breakthrough", Deputy Inspector General Abdul Majid said two Islamist militants arrested last week in connection with Bhutto's assassination had told investigators details of the plot against her.

Their motive for attacking Bhutto was that she was coming to Pakistan at the behest of a foreign power Chaudhry Abdul MajidPakistani police <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7165892.stm">Bhutto murder: Key questions</a>

"They have confessed that they gave a suicide jacket and a pistol to the bomber," he told reporters in Islamabad. "Their confession is a major piece of evidence in the case."

Mr Abdul Majid said the two men had told a Pakistani magistrate in Rawalpindi that on the eve of the attack, two suicide bombers named Bilal and Ikramullah had stayed at Mr Gul's home in Rawalpindi.

Mr Gul said he had given Bilal his sunglasses and driven the two bombers to the public park where the attack occurred, he added.

"Bilal himself opened fire and launched the suicide attack," he said.

Mr Abdul Majid said Ikramullah was to have detonated his suicide bomb vest if Bhutto escaped the first blast, according to the confessions. He is said to have left Rawalpindi the following morning without saying where he was going.

Newspapers pictured the man who apparently shot at Benazir Bhutto

Mr Gul allegedly told police he had wanted to "avenge" the killing of his close friend during the military raid on the Red Mosque in the capital, Islamabad, in July 2007.

"Their motive for attacking Bhutto was that she was coming to Pakistan at the behest of a foreign power," Mr Abdul Majid said.

The Pakistani government has blamed Taleban rebel leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is based in the troubled region of South Waziristan, for masterminding the assassination of Ms Bhutto. He has denied any involvement.