New York: The United Nations has got a letter from Pakistan People's Party seeking a probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto but no such communication has been received from the slain leader's husband, a UN spokesperson said.

"We did not get his (Asif Ali Zardari's) letter," spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters yesterday The spokesperson said the letter from PPP's North American office, which was dated January 4,called for a setting up a Hariri-style tribunal to thoroughly investigate Bhutto's assassination.

The UN, she said, has not yet responded to that letter. Asked whether Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon or any senior UN official would receive a PPP delegation which is expected to arrive here next week, she said no request for an appointment has been made.

She said the secretary-general is leaving for Europe on Monday. Ban has said the United Nations cannot hold a probe unless it received a request from Pakistan government.

PPP leaders had warned that if Pakistan government failed to make a request to the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General seeking a probe, the family members of Bhutto and the PPP will raise the issue directly with the UN to take "suo motu" action.

The UN has said that the international tribunal to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was set up at the request of the concerned government and that the decision to do so was taken by the Security Council.

Source : PTI