Bhutto team arrives in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, July 17 (UPI) -- A U.N. team investigating the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto visited the city of Rawalpindi where the leader was killed.

Heraldo Munoz, the Chilean envoy to the United Nations, brought an independent commission to Rawalpindi to examine the circumstances surrounding the 2007 assassination.

"This was a very important visit for us and we spent a good amount of time there trying to understand more clearly and more fully what happened on that fateful day," he said.

Munoz and the team met with senior police officials and other security personnel who were present when Bhutto was assassinated during a political celebration in Rawalpindi.

The United Nations began its official inquiry July 1.

Bhutto was assassinated during a campaign rally as she led the Pakistan People's Party opposition movement against President Pervez Musharraf.

Asif Ali Zardari, her widower, emerged from the opposition to become the next president of Pakistan in September 2008.

The Chilean diplomat said he was reminded of his mandate to investigate the assassination and bring the perpetrators to justice, the United Nations reported.

"We are continuing with our activities by gathering more information and getting into contact with a number of individuals and officials that we would like to meet," he said.