WASHINGTON, Feb 26: The pregnant widow of Daniel Pearl said on Tuesday she still had great affection for Pakistan despite her husband’s murder and praised investigators who tried to rescue him.

In her first interviews since her husband’s videotaped killing by his captors was disclosed last week, Mariane Pearl said the Pakistani people, and especially investigators, had shown her great compassion and empathy during the ordeal.

“My feelings and my affection for this country have not changed because of what happened here.

On the contrary, the people have shown tremendous support to me. They have shared my sorrow,” said Mrs Pearl in an interview with CNN from Karachi.

“I know they feel bad, ashamed, sad about what happened,” added Mrs Pearl, a French national.

Mariane Pearl, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child, said Pakistani investigators had shown unlimited amounts of courage despite having limited resources.—Reuters