Bhutto death probe may get outside help

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Pakistani government, after earlier rejecting outside help, may accept an international investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Mohammed Sadiq, Foreign Ministry spokesman in the caretaker government, said Wednesday the investigation into the former prime minister's killing last week in Rawalpindi would be thorough and transparent and that the government is "open to receiving assistance from outside," CNN reported.

Separately, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro, who met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, said Pakistan, if needed, would "take advantage" of France's help in the investigation.

The government of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has given contradictory accounts of what it believes led to Bhutto's death, leading to international criticism.

Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari, who now leads her Pakistan People's Party along with their 19-year-old son, has called for a U.N.-led investigation into her death, saying he doesn't trust the Musharraf government.

Bhutto was killed during an attack that included gunfire and a suicide bomber.