Bid to assassinate Pakistani president

Pakistan’s president said junior army and air force personnel were involved in an assassination attempt against him in December and that the suspects have been captured.

General Pervez Musharraf made the comments in an interview on Pakistan’s private Geo television network. He did not elaborate on the men’s role or say when they were caught, but said they will face a trial in a military court.

Musharraf, who has angered hardliners for supporting the US-led war on terrorism, was not hurt in the December 14 attack when a powerful bomb exploded moments after his motorcade passed over a bridge near the capital. No one was killed or injured.

Eleven days later, two suicide bombers tried to kill Musharraf again on the same road by ramming his motorcade with explosive-laden vehicles. The president was unhurt but 16 people, mostly policemen, were killed.

Asked if the suspects were directly involved in the assassination attempts, Musharraf said: “For the bridge incident, yes.”

In March, Musharraf said a Libyan member of al-Qaida was behind the attacks. He did not identify the suspect, but said in today’s interview he remained at large.

Army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan confirmed the arrests but offered few details.

“They were junior ranking people, and none among them was an officer,” he said.