PESHAWAR, Dec 31 The government's statement holding Waziristan's tribesmen responsible for the death of Benazir Bhutto is a plot to pitch different nationalities of the country against each other.

So said the Awami National Party in a press statement issued by the party's provincial president, Afrasiab Khattak, on Monday.

The statement said the video footage and still pictures of Benazir Bhutto's assassination had shown clearly that the former prime minister had died of bullet wounds. The images ran in the face of the interior ministry version which held that she did not die of bullet wounds.

The statement added that it was extremely unfortunate that the ministry spokesman was laying responsibility of Ms Bhutto's death at the door of the Pakhtun at this delicate moment in the country's history.

He said the entire country was grieving over her death, especially the people of Sindh. Hundreds of trucks owned by the Pakhtun loaded with commercial goods were burnt to ashes on the National Highway causing great losses, he said.

He expressed astonishment at the government's statements which he said were made without due prior investigations.

The government, he said, wanted to save its skin and throw the dirt at the Pakhtun, who were already facing the 'war on terror' on their soil. The ANP's provincial chief hoped that the country could not be deceived by the government and all the grieved people would join forces to catch the oppressors by their collar.

The establishment of true democracy in the country would mean best revenge of Bhutto's killing, he added.—Bureau