Musharraf resigns as Pakistan president

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf resigned on Monday, bringing down the curtain on a turbulent nine years in power to avoid the first impeachment in the nuclear-armed nation's history.

The key US ally, who seized power in a 1999 coup, announced the move in a lengthy televised address, rejecting the charges against him but saying he wanted to spare Pakistan a damaging battle with the ruling coalition.

The departure of the former general set off wild celebrations at home, yet it was far from certain what would come next for a nation whose role in the "war on terror" has been increasingly questioned by Washington.

"After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign," Musharraf, wearing a sober suit and tie, said near the end of his one-hour address.

"I leave my future in the hands of the people."

Coalition leaders Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Musharraf in 1999, were shown shaking hands and smiling after his speech but gave no immediate reaction.

His decision to quit came after the coalition said it was ready to press ahead with impeachment as early as Tuesday. It was not known if Musharraf had concluded a deal that would save him from prosecution in the days ahead.

"If we continue with the politics of confrontation, we will not save the country," the 65-year-old Musharraf said. "People will never pardon this government if they fail to do so."

But several close aides said Musharraf was not set to go into exile as several of Pakistan's former leaders have done. "He is not going anywhere," one aide said.

The president said he would give his formal resignation to the speaker of parliament later Monday. Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro will act as as caretaker president until an election, which is expected in the next few weeks.

Musharraf later received a final guard of honour from troops at the presidency as a brass band played the national anthem.

His troubles began last year when he sacked senior judges who opposed him, clearing the way for his re-election while still holding a dual role as head of the country's powerful armed forces.
The move set off mass protests in the streets that built into a national crisis which saw Musharraf declare a state of emergency in November.

But he was compelled to quit as army chief within weeks, and when his administration was seen to have bungled the handling of the December assassination of Bhutto, his fate seemed to be sealed.

Voters underscored his unpopularity at the ballot box in February, handing the parties of Bhutto and Sharif a massive victory.

"After the martyrdom of my mother I said that democracy was the best revenge -- and today it was proved true," said Bhutto's 19-year-old son, Bilawal.

The possible impeachment charges against Musharraf were expected to be related to his sacking of the judges, but in his speech he strongly defended every aspect of his time in power -- even the coup nine years ago.

He said he had improved a tottering economy, helped establish law and order, fostered democracy and burnished the country's international stature.

"On the map of the world Pakistan is now an important country, by the grace of Allah," Musharraf said.

The president was also backed into a corner by the resurgency of Islamic militants in the tribal areas along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, who launched a massive wave of attacks last year that left more than 1,000 dead.

Musharraf himself survived three assassination attempts while holding what some have called the most dangerous job in the world, and went from being a backer of the Taliban to a close US ally after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Cheering crowds poured into the streets in major cities across the country -- the second most populous Islamic nation and the only one with an atom bomb -- after he stepped down.

"The nation is so happy," university student Saba Gul said in the eastern city of Lahore, as people embraced and handed out sweets.

The United States gave no immediate reaction, but British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Musharraf's resignation ended a "critical period in Pakistan's history."

Berlin called on the next president to help bring stability in neighbouring Afghanistan, while Kabul said it hoped the resignation would lead to a "strengthening of the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan."