WASHINGTON, Jan 5: The United States said on Saturday that it has not seen any report in which Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda has claimed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

“We have not seen this report, if that’s out there. And we’ll certainly look for it,” White House Deputy Spokesman Tony Fratto said of reports of Al Qaeda having claimed the responsibility for killing Ms Bhutto.

While not opening support his government’s claim that Al Qaeda plotted Ms Bhutto’s death, Mr Fratto said Washington greatly valued the role President Pervez Musharraf plays in the war on terror.

He also said that it’s important for Washington to have a leader in Pakistan who is committed to fighting terrorism.

“But as for President Musharraf, I don’t think there’s any question that he has been a very strong hand in fighting and a strong ally in fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban elements in Pakistan,” he said.

“And that’s an important relationship for us to have the leadership in Pakistan, whoever it is, to be committed to fighting extremism,” Mr Fratto said.