Bhutto appears before Swiss court

Bhutto lives in self-imposed exile in London and the Middle East

Former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, has appeared in a Swiss court in the latest chapter of a long-running money-laundering case.

Ms Bhutto was convicted in July 2003 but challenged the ruling and under Swiss law a new round of questioning had to begin.

Ms Bhutto and husband Asif Zardari each earlier received six-month suspended jail terms and $50,000 fines.

She again denied malpractice and said the case was politically motivated.

Ms Bhutto lives in self-imposed exile in London and the Middle East.

She arrived smiling for her closed-door meeting at the Palais de Justice in Geneva accompanied by lawyers and aides.

Husband summoned

Speaking to the BBC's Urdu service after the hearing, she said: "I deny all the allegations. I am disappointed that the Pakistani government is taking advantage of the Swiss judicial system to settle their political scores."

Ms Bhutto said the hearing simply involved questioning and did not amount to the framing of charges.

She said she welcomed the opportunity to present her case.

BENAZIR BHUTTO 1953 - born in Sindh 1979 - father executed 1990/96 - dismissed as prime minister 1999 - convicted for not appearing in court 2002 - barred from standing in general elections 2003 - found guilty of money laundering by Swiss judge

The Swiss magistrate has issued a summons for her husband, her co-accused.

Mr Zardari is currently serving a jail term in Pakistan for corruption.

In April he refused a Pakistani government offer to allow him to go to Switzerland to defend himself, saying he was too ill to travel.

The case relates to a 1998 indictment in which Ms Bhutto was accused of having access to money obtained through kickbacks and commissions from two Swiss companies with contracts with the then Pakistani government.

An investigation found several numbered accounts in Switzerland in which more than $11m had been deposited.

The accounts were frozen following a request from Pakistan.

The original Swiss ruling ordered Ms Bhutto to return nearly $12m and a diamond necklace worth $188,000 to Pakistan.

Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari both deny misappropriating any money.