FINANCIAL TIMES: The Pakistan government blamed Islamist militants for twin explosions that killed more than 130 supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto during her homecoming parade in the early hours of Friday morning.
The attack underscored the turbulence which lay in store for Pakistan ahead of an election due by January, but it was unclear how the assassination attempt might affect a possible power-sharing deal between Ms Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf.
No-one claimed responsibility, but Ms Bhutto’s husband held Pakistan’s intelligence agency to blame, while police were investigating whether the attack was connected to al-Qaeda linked militants in tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
Militants linked to al-Qaeda, angered by the former prime minister’s support for the US war on terrorism, had this week threatened to assassinate her, and officials said there were intelligence reports of plots by three separate groups.
”Definitely, it is the work of the militants and terrorists,” said Javed Iqbal Cheema, interior ministry spokesman, adding it was too early to say which group was involved. Pakistan blames Islamist militants for bombs (more) By Jo Johnson and Farhan Bokhari in Karachi and Reuters
Mark Alexander
