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| India-Pakistan |
| US not received any request to help in Bhutto investigation: White House |
| 2007-12-30 |
| The White House Saturday said it is up to Pakistani authorities to determine the timing of the elections. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the United States has not received any request to help in the investigation following the death of the Pakistani opposition leader. He declined to comment on any delay of Pakistan's elections after the death of Benazir Bhutto, and urged Islamabad to thoroughly investigate her killing. "The elections should be free and fair and parties and candidates should be able to conduct an election in an open way," said White House spokesman. "But as for the timing, this will be something that the Pakistani authorities will have to determine." Asked about concerns by groups inside Pakistan that the government did not fully investigate Bhutto's death, Fratto said the investigations needed to be "thorough." "The investigation is ongoing. The government of Pakistan has a responsibility to ensure that the investigation is thorough and that the citizens have confidence in the results of the investigation." He added the United States has not received any request to help in the investigation following the death of the Pakistani opposition leader. "We haven't received any request for assistance. If we do, we will certainly consider them," he said. Fratto said: "The Pakistanis are going to have to make their decision based on the conditions following her death." |
| Posted by:Fred |