Bhutto's son gets protection at Oxford

LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Bilawal Bhutto, son of slain Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, will receive 24-hour protection upon returning to his studies at Oxford in England.

Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group will carry out a risk assessment and talk to officials in the Pakistan People's Party, which the 19-year-old first-year history student now leads, to decide the details, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

Bhutto, named Sunday as co-chairman of the party founded by his grandfather, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, is considered a target for Islamic militants and political opponents.

His family has seen four members assassinated: His grandfather, Pakistan's first elected prime minister, was ousted and executed by his enemies; two uncles died violent, unexplained deaths; and his mother was assassinated last week after speaking out against al-Qaida.

"When Bilawal went to school, the other children would ask about his dad being in prison," Mohsin Bari, PPP's general secretary for Greater London, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

"His mum explained everything to him about his father and the murder of his grandfather. He knew about his heritage and has been prepared to take his place when required. That time has come. His mother would have wished it."