Bhutto greets her supporters at the election rally minutes before it was hit by a suicide attack. Photo by cnn.com
Al-Qaeda claimed late Thursday responsibility for the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
The FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security have issued a bulletin citing the alleged claim of responsibility by the terrorist organisation, CNN reported.
The source of the claim was Italian independent news agency Adnkronos International (AKI), which said that al Qaeda Afghanistan commander and spokesman Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid had called the agency to make the claim.
"We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat the mujahadeen," Al-Yazid reportedly said.
Al-Yazid also told the agency that the decision to kill Bhutto was made by al-Qaeda number two Ayman Al-Dhawahiri in October.
Al Qaeda already took responsibility for the first unsuccessful attempt for assassination of Bhutto in October.
Pakistan's opposition leader was assassinated Thursday when a suicide bombing killed at least 20 supporters during her election rally.