Pakistan claimed yesterday that "al-Qaeda leader" Baitullah Mehsud and the Taliban were behind the suicide attack on Benazir Bhutto.

Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the government recorded an "intelligence intercept" in which Mehsud "congratulated his people for carrying out this cowardly act".

Mehsud is regarded as the commander of pro-Taliban forces in the lawless Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan, where Osama bin Laden is believed hiding.

The transcript is of an alleged conversation between Mehsud, who is referred to as Emir Sahib, and another man identified as a Maulvi Sahib, or Mr Cleric.

Maulvi Sahib: Peace be on you.

Baitullah Mehsud: Peace be on you, too.

Sahib: How are you Emir Sahib?

Mehsud: Fine.

Sahib: Congratulations.

Mehsud: Congratulations to you.

Sahib: They were our men there.

Mehsud: Who were they?

Sahib: There were Saeed, the second was Badarwala Bilal and Ikramullah was also there.

Mehsud: The three did it?

Sahib: Ikramullah and Bilal did it.

Mehsud: Congratulations again.

Sahib: Where are you?

Mehsud: I am in Makin. Come, I am at Anwar Shah's home.

Sahib: OK, I will come.

Mehsud: Do not inform their family presently.

Sahib: Right.

Mehsud: It was a spectacular job. They were very brave boys who killed her.

Sahib: Praise be to God. I will give more details when I come.

Mehsud: I will wait for you. Congratulations.

Sahib: Congratulations to you.

Mehsud: Peace be upon you.

Sahib: Same to you.