The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agencies, Islamabad

President Musharraf Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said UK investigators are to assist in the inquiry into the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

In a televised address, he said UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown had agreed to send a team of detectives from London to help establish what happened.

He said "terrorists" were behind the murder, and described Ms Bhutto's death as a "great tragedy" for the nation.

Elections set for next week in Pakistan have been postponed until 18 February.

Musharraf said too much damage had been done to polling stations and voter papers during the violence in the wake of Bhutto's assassination last Thursday.

"Election commission offices, their centres, polling stations and their equipment were all damaged and destroyed. Hence the election commission was facing a big difficulty to hold these elections," he said.

Speaking shortly after the president's address, Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, welcomed Britain's involvement in the investigation into her killing, but he repeated earlier calls for a wider, UN inquiry.

He confirmed the Pakistan People's Party would take part in the elections.

"It is the legacy of our leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to participate in elections, no matter what the circumstances," he said

The main opposition parties say they will take part, despite having demanded the election be held as originally planned on 8 January.

They have accused officials of seeking to rig the elections.

The vote is seen as a crucial move towards democratic rule under President Musharraf, an important ally in the US-led "war on terror" who stood down as army chief in November.

Pakistani elections will be delayed until Feb. 18 because of violence following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, authorities said Wednesday, ignoring threatened street protests by opposition parties.

The polls - seen as a key step in Pakistan's transition to democracy after years of military rule - had been scheduled for Jan. 8.

The opposition alleged authorities are postponing the polls to help the ruling party, which is allied to President Pervez Musharraf. Many believe Bhutto's party will get a sympathy boost if the vote takes place on time. Bhutto had accused elements in the ruling party of plotting to kill her, a charge it vehemently denies.

Some opposition officials had called for street protests if the elections were delayed.

"We reject this delay outright," said Sen. Babar Awan of Bhutto's party, the most powerful opposition group. "Musharraf fears outright defeat. If this election process is jeopardized, they (our followers) may protest again and there is a chance of riots."