Scotland Yard to probe Bhutto murder

Last Modified: 02 Jan 2008
By: Channel 4 News

Britain has sent a team from Scotland Yard to Pakistan in the hunt for Benazir Bhutto's killer.

"I am grateful to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, that I made the request and he accepted it."
President Musharraf

A team from Scotland Yard is being sent to Pakistan to help investigate the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Gordon Brown said the officers would arrive by the end of the week.

Musharraf postpones election

Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, has appealed for national reconciliation and promised to crack down on any renewed violence, ahead of the country's elections, which have now been postponed for another six weeks.

The assassination

Nearly 60 people were killed in the ensuing violence following the assassination on Thursday 27th December 2007.

Analysts said a postponement could lead to renewed rioting. Tension remains high and markets are gripped by fears of capital flight if security worsens.

In his speech, Musharraf said he was certain allies of the al Qaeda militant group were behind Bhutto's killing.

Opposition slams election delay

However, supporters of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the other main opposition party, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had wanted the election to go ahead as planned, fearing a delay would work to Musharraf's advantage.

Bhutto's party would expect to reap a considerable sympathy vote following her assassination in a gun and bomb attack as she left a rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Inigo Gilmore's report is from Islamabad.