December 31, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 20, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: The government on Sunday put on its website recording of a telephone conversation between alleged Al Qaeda leader in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, and one of his companions, in which they purportedly felicitate each other on the target killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

However, the recording seems unconvincing and raises doubts about its credibility and genuineness.

Usually militant groups take responsibility of any high-profile terrorist attack but a spokesman for Baitullah has reportedly denied the government’s claim that he or Al Qaeda was involved in the assassination.

But Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema insisted in a press briefing on Saturday that it was the act of Baitullah. “It suits Baitullah if he avoids taking responsibility of the assassination,” he said.

When reporters raised questions about the genuineness of the transcript and asked how the telephone call had been tapped, spokesman said it was a technical and secret matter and he could not give its details to the media.