by D. Cupples (photo from Senate.gov ) | The remains of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated on Thursday, were placed in a family mausoleum yesterday. Reuters reported that the assassination has "triggered violent protests."
Senator Hillary Clinton has demanded an independent, international investigation of the assassination, stating:
"I don't think the Pakistani government at this time under President (Pervez) Musharraf has any credibility at all. They have disbanded an independent judiciary, they oppressed a free press." (Agence France Presse)
Another troubling aspect: explanations of Bhutto's death seem to conflict.
On Thursday, it was reported that a bullet to the skull had killed Bhutto. Yesterday, reports were mixed: one explanation was that shrapnel from a suicide bomb had struck Bhutto's head, and another account was that the blast from the suicide bomb had forced her head into a hard object. (Associated Press)
Pakistan's Interior Minister is blaming both al Qaeda and the Taliban for Bhutto's assassination. The Pakistani government released a transcript yesterday, which officials claim reflects a conversation between two "militants" during which one praised Bhutto's killer(s).
Update: CNN reports:
"The Pakistani government has no problem with officials from Benazir Bhutto's political party exhuming the slain opposition leader's body if they see a need to do so, an Interior Ministry spokesman said Saturday." (via Memeorandum)
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That she could be murdered at close range in a public event is very troubling, to say the least. It remains to be seen who will take advantage of the instability and turmoil this horrible event has created.
Posted by: SandyCarlson | December 29, 2007 at 06:55 AM
You make a great point! And I suspect that we're already seeing people trying to take advantage.
Posted by: D. Cupples | December 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM