Pakistan Charges Musharraf in Bhutto Slaying

Pervez Musharraf was indicted today on murder charges connected to Benazir Bhutto's 2007 assassination, the AP reports. Musharraf, who pleaded not guilty, appeared in person after failing to show up to the originally scheduled indictment earlier this month. The prosecutor says he was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and facilitation for murder. It's not clear what he's accused of doing, but prosecutors have said in the past that he failed to provide sufficient protection for the assassinated former prime minister.

Top lawyers, however, predict the prosecution will have a hard time building a solid case against Musharraf, the Guardian reports. The former president and army chief, currently under house arrest in connection with one of the other two cases in which he's entangled, is the first former Pakistan army chief to be charged with a crime; his indictment is notable considering the military was once basically untouchable in Pakistan. (More Pervez Musharraf stories.)