WASHINGTON, Sept 20: A top US diplomat said late on Thursday the Pakistani intelligence service had thwarted an attempt to kill President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf himself has denied the attack.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage mentioned the plot during testimony before a joint House-Senate panel investigating the performance of US intelligence agencies ahead of the Sept 11 attacks.

Answering a question about the risk run by foreign leaders who have joined the United States campaign against terrorism, Armitage said: “Witness the fact that President Musharraf’s intelligence service thwarted a bombing attempt on him yesterday.” He did not elaborate.

The government, including Musharraf himself, has denied any new plot against him.

“There is no threat to my life. God is great. He saves all,” President Musharraf said on Thursday.

Gen Musharraf survived two assassination plots in Karachi in April and some Pakistani intelligence officials believe seven men arrested on Wednesday were planning another attempt on the president’s life during his tightly-guarded visit to the city this week.—AFP