Bhutto sacrifices life for country, democracy: Zardari

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NAUDERO, (Pakistan), Dec 30 (Agencies): Thousands of mourners converged Sunday on the ancestral home of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, shouting anti-government slogans ahead of a meeting to decide who should succeed her as party head and whether to boycott parliamentary elections. The meeting comes as critics accuse the government of failing to properly investigate the Thursday attack that killed Bhutto, plunging the nuclear-armed nation deeper into political crisis and triggering nationwide riots that have left at least 44 people dead.
A pullout by the Pakistan People's Party could destroy the credibility of the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections, already being boycotted by Pakistan's other main opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif.
"Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the sake of this country and for democracy," her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, told mourners after they had thrown flowers at the mausoleum where she was buried. "But her blood will not be in vain ... Bhutto will remain alive in the hearts of people."
Police struggled to control the crowds in Bhutto's hometown of Naudero, many of whom had walked miles to get there. They shouted "Musharraf is a killer!" and called for the separation of Bhutto's home province of Sindh from the rest of Pakistan.
Controversy remained about whether she was killed by gunshots, a shrapnel wound or the concussive force of the blast. She was buried without an autopsy and the debate over her cause of death was undermining confidence in the government and further angering her followers.
On Saturday, the government rejected suggestions it should enlist foreign help in investigating Bhutto's assassination.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that an international probe into Bhutto's death was vital because there was "no reason to trust the Pakistani government." Others called for a U.N. investigation.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Pakistan had not officially requested US help.
"It's a responsibility of the government of Pakistan to ensure that the investigation is thorough. If Pakistani authorities ask for assistance we would review the request," he said.
A senior US official, however, said Pakistan was already "discussing with other governments as to how best the investigation can be handled."
With the United States, the discussions "are about what we can offer and what the Pakistanis want. Having some help to make sure international questions are answered is definitely an option," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no agreement had yet come from the discussions.
There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistani officials. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband offered his country's assistance. "Obviously it's very important that a full investigation does take place, and has the confidence of all concerned," he said.
The government has blamed the attack on Baitullah Mehsud, head of the Tehrik-i-Taliban, a newly formed coalition of Islamic militants along the Afghan border believed to be linked to al-Qaida and committed to waging holy war against the government.
But a spokesman for Mehsud, Maulana Mohammed Umer, dismissed the allegations as "government propaganda."
Bhutto's aides said they, too, doubted Mehsud was involved and accused the government of a cover-up.
"The story that al-Qaida or Baitullah Mehsud did it appears to us to be a planted story, an incorrect story, because they want to divert the attention," said Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Bhutto's party.