(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-03 10:32

WASHINGTON -- The United States sees no need for a United Nations investigation into the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, the White House said Wednesday.

"Scotland Yard being in the lead of this investigation is appropriate and necessary and we don't see a need for an investigation beyond that at this time," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

"It was the Pakistani government that decided to ask Scotland Yard for its help, and we think that was appropriate, and we welcome that decision... We think they'll do an excellent job," Perino said.

On the critical situation in Pakistan, the spokeswoman urged the political parties in the country to refrain from violence.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday a Scotland Yard team has been invited to help probe the assassination of Bhutto.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has agreed to send the team to help Pakistan in the investigations.

Bhutto, 54, was killed on December 27, 2007 in a suicide bomb attack in Rawalpindi, south of capital Islamabad while campaigning for the coming parliamentary elections. She was the leader of the Pakistan People's Party.