US says Scotland Yard findings into Bhutto killing 'credible'

WASHINGTON: The US has termed as 'credible' the Scotland Yard's findings that former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto died due to the impact of a suicide bomb and not from a gunshot, saying it has no reason to question the validity of assessment made by the British sleuths.

"Certainly I understand that this is an emotional issue, both for members of her family, as well as for the many people in Pakistan who supported Benazir Bhutto. In terms of the investigation itself by Scotland Yard, we view this as a credible investigation by independent, outside experts," State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said on Friday.

"I'd leave it to them (Scotland Yard) to talk about both the conclusions that they've drawn, as well as the limitations on some of the evidence they had to view. But we don't have any reason why we would question the validity of their assessment," he said when asked to comment on the claim by Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party that was indeed a bullet that felled their leader and hence there should be an independent investigation.

Casey said it was important for people to feel that they have a clear understanding of what happened. "We aren't proposing anything particular, though, and I think it would be up to the Pakistanis to decide whether they felt they needed more review or investigation of this beyond what Scotland Yard and Pakistani authorities have already done."