Miliband: No reason to doubt claims

Supporters of Ms Bhutto dispute claims that an "al Qaida" militant leader was behind Thursday's attack, instead accusing the authorities of mounting a cover-up.

The former prime minister was killed on Thursday when a suicide bomber first shot at her and then blew himself up as she left a rally ahead of elections due on January 8.

Further anger has been sparked by official findings that the cause of death was not bullets or shrapnel but the blast forcing her head into a lever as she ducked back into her armoured vehicle.

Mr Miliband welcomed the setting up of an inquiry into the circumstances - to be led by a high court judge selected with the approval of the Bhutto family.

Speaking as he emerged from the Pakistan High Commission in London where he signed a book of condolence for Ms Bhutto, he said: "We have followed carefully the reports from the Pakistani government and we have no evidence to contradict the reports that are coming out of Pakistan.

"Obviously it is very important that a full investigation does take place and has the confidence of all concerned. I have made clear to the acting prime minister of Pakistan, on the telephone, that the full resources of the British Government would be available if needed to help get to the bottom of this terrible tragedy."

But in Pakistan, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said: "This is not an ordinary criminal matter in which we require assistance of the international community. I think we are capable of handling it."

Ms Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party meet on Sunday to decide whether to follow rival opposition party leader Nawaz Sharif in boycotting the poll. It will also hear her will which is believed to include her vision of the future for the party in the event of her death. It will be read by her son.

Pakistan's election commission will hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to assess the implications of the violence for the poll.