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Bhutto Detained Again As Pakistan Crisis Intensifies

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By ZARAR KHAN, The Associated Press

Published: November 13, 2007

LAHORE, Pakistan - Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest for the second time in four days to prevent her staging a march today to protest emergency rule, police said.

A close aide to the former prime minister said she would try to lead the 185-mile procession anyway.

The showdown intensified the political crisis engulfing Pakistan and further clouded the prospect of a pro-U.S. alliance against rising Islamic extremism forming between Bhutto and President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Aftab Cheema, the chief of operations of Lahore city police, said about 600 officers had been deployed around the Bhutto's house in Lahore and said additional forces could be sent later.

Police said they had increased security around Bhutto because of intelligence that a suicide bomber was planning to attack her in Lahore.
Ayaz Salim, a top police official, said officers had searched all the city's hotels after receiving a tip a suicide bomber was staying in one. They did not find the suspect.

Bhutto was targeted by an Oct. 18 suicide bombing of a homecoming procession in the southern city of Karachi as she returned from years in exile. The assassination attempt killed 145 people.

With Musharraf losing popularity because of growing disaffection in Pakistan over enduring military rule, the Bush administration has backed talks about power-sharing between him and Bhutto to keep a U.S.-friendly regime in control of the nuclear-armed nation where militants are orchestrating attacks in the country, across the border in Afghanistan.

Bhutto has said the talks stalled because of the emergency declaration but could be revived if he lifts it.

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