New videotape of Bhutto shooting emerges
NAUDERO, Pakistan (CNN) — Dramatic new videotape of the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto emerged Sunday, showing her slumping moments after gunshots ring out.
While the tape provides the clearest view yet of the attack, it doesn’t appear to answer who was behind the assassination or how Bhutto died.
Bhutto can be seen standing up through her vehicle’s sunroof. After the sound of three gunshots, her headscarf flaps up on her left side and she slumps forward and slides into the car.
The gunman, wearing sunglasses, appears to be in a black suit. The suicide bomber is seen dressed in white with his head covered. Watch the videotape of Bhutto being shot
Also Sunday, it was announced that the slain former leader’s 19-year-old son will succeed her as chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, which will take part in upcoming elections.
Bilawal Zardari, speaking in English at a news conference, said, I am thankful for the CEC [Central Election Commission] for imposing their trust in me as chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party.
Like all chairmen of the PPP, I will stand as the symbol of the federation. The party’s long and historic struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigor, and I stand committed to the stability of the federation.
My mother always said democracy is the best revenge.
Bhutto had named her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, to head the Pakistan People’s Party in her will, which was read on Sunday, but he handed over the position to the couple’s son, PPP official Makhdoom Amin Faheem said. Watch Bhutto’s son and husband talk about the party’s future
The party accepted that decision in a meeting following the reading of the will.
Party officials told CNN that the younger Zardari, who attends Oxford University in England, will take over as chairman once he completes his studies. Until then, senior party advisers will lead the PPP. Watch Human Rights Watch official explain son’s important symbolic role
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the telephone Sunday, and the Pakistani leader agreed to consider international support for the investigation into Bhutto’s death, according to a statement from Brown’s office.
Musharraf’s government has previously rejected international help, specifically from Britain.
We understand our environment better than the international community, Pakistani Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said Saturday.
Scotland Yard cannot investigate in Waziristan. They don’t understand Pashto.
Ali Zardari also said the PPP is asking the United Nations to investigate the circumstances of Bhutto’s December 27 killing. He said he does not plan to call for an autopsy on his wife, who was buried in her hometown on Friday. See photos of I-Reporters’ memories of Bhutto
Musharraf also spoke Sunday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a French foreign ministry spokeswoman told CNN. After the conversation, it was announced that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will travel to Pakistan this week. The spokeswoman would not elaborate on the details of the telephone conversation or Kouchner’s planned visit.
Kouchner is currently accompanying Sarkozy on an official trip to Egypt.
Meanwhile, Ali Zardari announced the PPP will participate in the upcoming parliamentary election which is scheduled for January 8, but could be postponed in the wake of the assassination of Bhutto.
He called on opposition leader Nawaz Sharif — who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-N party — to also take part in the vote. Sharif has previously said he would boycott the election.
Sources within Sharif’s party said the Pakistan Muslim League-N party will stand with the PPP and take part in the election. Speaking on Pakistan’s GEO-TV, Sharif said an official announcement on the party’s decision would take place Monday.
It was unclear whether Pakistan’s government would delay the January 8 elections for parliament — which will eventually choose the prime minister, a post that both Bhutto and Sharif had held. Sharif has been barred from running for another term as prime minister.
Musharraf’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the election commission and the interim Cabinet will hold separate meetings in the coming days to discuss the possibility of a delayed vote.
We will know in a day or two whether there will be a delay, Information Minister Nisar Memon said.
When asked about the naming of Bhutto’s successor, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said it is up to the political parties in Pakistan to choose their leaders.
We believe it is important for Pakistan to confront extremists and continue on the path to democracy by holding free and fair elections, Stanzel said. The timing of those elections will be up to the Pakistanis.
Pakistan’s government has given several explanations for the official cause of Bhutto’s death, most recently saying she died after striking her head on the sunroof of her car. The PPP has called the government’s changing position a pack of lies.
I have lived in this country long enough to know how the autopsies are done, Ali Zardari said Sunday, explaining why he did not give the home secretary of Punjab province permission for an autopsy.
It was an insult to my wife, to the sister of the nation, to the mother of the nation, if I was to give her last remains to be post-mortemed and I know the forensics reports are useless.
We know what the wound is, we know how it was done. We don’t need post-mortems to prove the death, therefore I refuse to give them the last remains, because they belong to God and the people of Pakistan.
I buried her with honor, I was not going to give it to them.
found here.
