The Scotland Yard team probing former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto's assassination has concluded that she died after she hit her head due to the impact of the suicide blast, according to the New York Times. The probe report asserts that Bhutto's death was not caused by an assassin's bullet.

Scotland Yard's findings support the Pakistani government's claims that Bhutto was killed when she hit her head against the sunroof of her car, after the powerful bomb detonated. But the report contradicts the statements of Bhutto's supporters and colleagues in the Pakistan People's Party, who believe that the leader was shot, said NYT.

Incidentally, the Scotland Yard team reached these conclusions in spite of the absence of an autopsy report and any concrete physical evidence, as the blast site had been cleaned up before any forensic evidence could be collected.

The British inquiry also states that the blast was caused by the lone gunman present at the site, the New York Times quoted sources as saying. Earlier, the Pakistani authorities had claimed that there were two assailants involved in Bhutto's assassination.

Scotland Yard investigators have already informed President Pervez Musharraf [Images] about their findings, said the daily.
The investigators presented a formal report to the Pakistani government today. The report will also be presented to Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari and son Bilawal, who is a student in London [Images].

Scotland Yard refused to comment on the report till it is made public by the Pakistan government, said NYT.
However, the paper points out that the report will be criticised by PPP leaders and Bhutto's supporters, who have often alleged that the Pakistan government is involved in her death.