Swiss deny Bhutto money laundering

Swiss officials have closed a probe into the late Benazir Bhutto for alleged money laundering and have denied charges against her.

The Pakistani opposition leader was killed Thursday in Rawalpindi by a suicide bomber who shot at her and than blew himself up.

A three-year investigation into allegations that Bhutto used Swiss banks to launder millions of dollars in kickbacks has been closed, lawyer Alec has said. He said the charges against Bhutto were steadfastly denied, calling the corruption claims politically motivated.

However, Reymond said a parallel probe would continue against Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, and another unnamed individual.

In 1998, Swiss authorities said they found 20 million Swiss francs (then about US$13.8 million) in Swiss accounts belonging to Bhutto and her family.

The accounts were frozen at the request of Pakistan's government.

"Miss Bhutto has always said that this was not her money. The accounts were not in her name,'' Reymond told The Associated Press.

MMA/RA

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