Al-Qaeda, tribal leader behind Bhutto assassination: CIA chief

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Al-Qaeda and allies of Pakistani tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud were behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the US intelligence chief was quoted as saying Friday.

A newly active alliance between local and international terrorists poses a grave risk to Pakistan's government, CIA Director Michael Hayden told The Washington Post in an interview.

"What you see is, I think, a change in the character of what's going on there," Hayden said.

"You've got this nexus now that probably was always there in latency but is now active: a nexus between Al-Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups," he was quoted as saying.

"It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists."...