Benazir Bhutto (file photo)
The United Nations is beginning a formal inquiry Wednesday into the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

A Pakistani investigation last year concluded that Taliban militants were likely responsible for Ms. Bhutto's death in December 2007. But her political party has suggested that Ms. Bhutto's political opponents may have played a role in the plot.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced the creation of the fact-finding commission after meeting with Ms. Bhutto's widower, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, in Islamabad last February.

Ms. Bhutto was killed in a bomb attack after addressing an election rally near the Pakistani capital.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.