Al Qaeda claims responsibility

Asif Ali Zardari (C) husband of former premier Benazir Bhutto scatters rose petals on the grave of his wife at Ghari Khuda Baksh, 28 December 2007. Hundreds of thousands of people let out a huge roar as the former Pakistan premier's body arrived at the family mausoleum in the village of Ghari Khuda Baksh in the southern province of Sindh. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN

ISLAMABAD: Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Online quoted Adnkronos International (AKI) news agency as reporting. “We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat (the) mujahadeen,” AKI quoted Al Qaeda commander and main spokesman Mustafa Abu Al Yazid as saying.

According to AKI, Al Yazid is the main Al Qaeda commander in Afghanistan. “It is believed that the decision to kill Benazir...was made by Al Qaeda No 2, the Egyptian doctor, Ayman Al Zawahiri in October,” AKI said. “...one cell comprising a defunct Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s Punjabi volunteer succeeded in killing Benazir,” it added.

Meanwhile, the FBI and US Homeland Security departments on Friday claimed that Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri masterminded the assassination of the PPP chairwoman, Geo news reported. Agencies: Daily Times Monitor