Pakistan issues arrest warrant for Pervez Musharraf

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has issued an arrest warrant for former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

Prosecutors say he was aware of Taliban plans to target her but did not act to prevent her murder in Rawalpindi.

They accuse him of failing to provide adequate security for the former PM.

Mr Musharraf - who lives is a self-imposed exile in London - denies the allegations.

Ms Bhutto was killed while travelling in an election motorcade in the city of Rawalpindi in December 2007.

Questionnaire sent

On Saturday, prosecutors at the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi said that any further progress in investigating Mrs Bhutto's assassination was not possible without Mr Musharraf's presence.

They said they had tried repeatedly to contact Mr Musharraf over the case but he had refused to co-operate.

They added that he would be declared a wanted fugitive if he did not appear for the next hearing.

A questionnaire was also sent to Mr Musharraf's London address.

Mr Musharraf seized power in 1999 when, as chief of Pakistan's army, he ousted elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a coup. He resigned as president in 2008.