Pakistan to ask for outside help to investigate killing of Bhutto

Islamabad: Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf is to ask for outside help to investigate the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf is expected to make the announcement during an address to the nation on Wednesday evening.

He will also appeal for calm in the country in the broadcast at 7pm UAE time.

Pakistan has been under pressure to accept an outside investigation.

Forensic experts believe that much of the evidence has been lost in the clean-up operation after the gun-and-bomb attack that killed Bhutto in Rawalpindi.

An aide to President Musharraf said: "We are going to ask for an international investigation into her death.''