Rights group: Probe Bhutto death

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- An international human rights group Thursday warned the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto could threaten Pakistan's transition to democracy.

Saying violence has claimed far too many lives in the country, Human Rights Watch's South Asia researcher Ali Dayan Hasan said: "Benazir Bhutto was a democrat who believed in the supremacy of constitutional rule and throughout her career, sought power through the ballot box. Today, she died campaigning for votes and calling for a free election."

HRW urged the Pakistani government to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the assassination and give it its full cooperation.

"Given Bhutto's public accusations of government threats against her and the absence of judicial independence in Pakistan, an independent and transparent investigation is absolutely essential," Hasan said.