Bhutto 'will return to Pakistan'

Bhutto girds for al Qaeda threat on return to Pakistan
Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:54pm EDT

(Adds Bhutto and official's quotes on suicide
attack threats)

By Zeeshan Haider

DUBAI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Former prime minister
Benazir Bhutto said she would return to Pakistan on
Thursday to end eight years of self-exile and lead
her party into national elections despite threats of
al Qaeda inspired suicide attacks.

"Many threats have been made from left, right and
centre to try and intimidate not only me, but most
important of all, the people of Pakistan so that
they should not go to the airport to receive me,"
Bhutto said in Dubai on Wednesday.

-snip-

"There are intelligence reports that three different
groups have plans to carry out attacks on Bhutto,"
Ghulam Mohammad Mohtaram, Home Secretary of
Sindh province, told Reuters.

The official said the suicide attacks were being
planned by Pakistani jihadi groups linked to al Qaeda
and Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud,
whose fighters were holding more than 200 Pakistani
soldiers hostage close to the Afghan border.

-snip-