UN hopes for inquiry into assassination of Benazir Bhutto

Ban Ki-moon said he is hopeful that a United Nations inquiry into Benazir Bhutto's assassination will be launched soon.

In a statement released on the eve of the anniversary of Bhutto's murder, the UN Secretary General sought to assure the people and government of Pakistan of"his commitment to contribute to their search for truth and justice".

He said that he"is hopeful that ... the Commission [of inquiry] could be established in the near future," a UN statement said.

He recalled that at the request of Islamabad, the UN has been consulting the Pakistani authorities"to determine the nature of the Commission, the scope of its mandate and the modalities for its establishment."