JUDY WOODRUFF: The government of Pakistan pointed the finger of blame at al-Qaida and the Taliban today in Benazir Bhutto's death. The former prime minister died yesterday in a suicide attack while campaigning in Rawalpindi. Since then, violence has spread across the country, killing at least 27 people. Today, a spokesman for the interior minister explained how they knew al-Qaida was behind the attack.
JAVED IQBAL CHEEMA, Pakistani Interior Ministry Spokesman: We just had an intelligence intercept that was recorded this morning in which Baitullah Mehsud has congratulated his people for carrying out this cowardly act. We have irrefutable evidence that al-Qaida, its networks and cohorts are trying to destabilize Pakistan, which is in the forefront of the war against terrorism.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Later, the Pakistani government released a transcript of that conversation between the two al-Qaida-linked figures. One exchange went like this -- quoting -- "It was a spectacular job. They were very brave boys who killed her. Praise be to God. I will give you more details when I come."
The Interior Ministry also reported Bhutto died when the force of the blast caused her head to hit a lever on the sunroof of her car while she was standing up through it. Initially, authorities said she was killed by gunshots and shrapnel from the attack.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of thousands of mourners followed Bhutto to her final resting place. She was buried at her family's mausoleum in her ancestral home in the southern Sindh Province.
And, in Washington today, mourners signed a condolence book for Benazir Bhutto at the embassy of Pakistan. Secretary of State Rice was there, and added her own words to the book. Afterwards, she spoke to reporters.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. Secretary of State: In my conversations with her, her commitment and her dedication came through very clearly, and most especially her love for her people and for her country.
And I believe that her legacy will be one of being remembered for that dedication. And as the president said yesterday, the way to honor her memory is to continue the democratic process in Pakistan so that the democracy that she so hoped for can emerge.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Parliamentary elections in Pakistan are scheduled for January 8, a date the Pakistani government has not yet changed.
We will have more on today's events in Pakistan right after this news summary.
In Iraq today, a lull in violence came to an end when a car bomb in Baghdad killed at least 14 people. It hit in a busy marketplace in a largely Shiite neighborhood. More than 60 other Iraqis were wounded.
Back in this country, President Bush announced today he will not sign a defense policy bill. With the use of the so-called pocket veto, the White House said his objections center on a provision letting victims of Saddam Hussein's regime sue in U.S. courts and seek compensation from the Iraqi government. Democrats complained that this blocks a pay raise for members of the U.S. armed forces.
A spokesman said the White House would consult with congressional leaders in January to fix that part of the bill.
In U.S. economic news today: word that the housing market has taken another blow. The Commerce Department reported that new home sales fell 9 percent in November, to their lowest level in more than 12 years.
On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones industrial average gained six points, to close above 13,365. The Nasdaq fell two points, to close at 2,674.
For the week, the Dow and the Nasdaq each lost 0.6 percent.
