Friday, December 28, 2007

Bhutto Attack Probably a Taliban Plot, Ministry Says (Update1)

Bloomberg news has generated a fine piece of reportage through Khalid Qayum, and Khaleeq Ahmed, both in Islamabad . The article carries unadorned the formal statement of the Pakistani government, including its public defense of its efforts to secure Bhutto's campaign from threats and danger.

(After reading these clips, please be sure to click through to the entire article)

clipped from www.bloomberg.com

Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- A Taliban commander linked to al-Qaeda is suspected of plotting the suicide attack that killed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's government said.

Authorities have a taped conversation of the Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, in which he congratulates a friend for Bhutto's death, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters today. ``Very brave boys'' took part in the assault, Mehsud said, according to a government transcript of the tape.

``We pray and wish that she had not come out of that sunroof to wave to the people,'' Cheema said. ``Police had advised her not to expose herself, that she might be harmed.''

To contact the reporters on this story:

Khalid Qayum in Islamabad at
kqayum@bloomberg.net

Khaleeq Ahmed in Islamabad at
paknews@bloomberg.net
.

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