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Pakistan parliament set to meet New parliament opens in Pakistan
(10 minutes later)
Pakistan's new parliament is due to be sworn in, setting the stage for a likely confrontation between President Pervez Musharraf and the government. Pakistan's new parliament has convened, setting the stage for a likely confrontation between President Pervez Musharraf and the government.
Parties opposed to Mr Musharraf have agreed to form a governing coalition.Parties opposed to Mr Musharraf have agreed to form a governing coalition.
The 18 February polls delivered a huge blow to President Musharraf's parliamentary allies, making his own position more precarious.The 18 February polls delivered a huge blow to President Musharraf's parliamentary allies, making his own position more precarious.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of the late former PM Benazir Bhutto is expected to nominate a prime minister.The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of the late former PM Benazir Bhutto is expected to nominate a prime minister.
The party won the most seats in the election and has formed a coalition with the party of Nawaz Sharif - also a former prime minister - the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The party won the most seats in the election and has formed a coalition with the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the coalition agreement between the two, who were formerly bitter rivals, depends on the restoration of Supreme Court judges who were purged by the president during emergency rule. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the coalition agreement between the two parties, who were formerly bitter rivals, depends on the restoration of Supreme Court judges who were purged by the president during emergency rule.
Correspondents say it is believed the judges were about to declare President Musharraf ineligible for a further term, and he has pledged to fight their reinstatement.Correspondents say it is believed the judges were about to declare President Musharraf ineligible for a further term, and he has pledged to fight their reinstatement.
Separately, an announcement is expected to be made in the coming days on who is to be the prime minister.Separately, an announcement is expected to be made in the coming days on who is to be the prime minister.
The chairman of the PML-N has confirmed to the BBC that the office-holder has been chosen from the PPP, as it gained most votes in the elections in February. But he declined to say who it was. The chairman of the PML-N has confirmed to the BBC that the office-holder had been chosen from the PPP, as it gained most votes in the election in February. But he declined to say who it was.
Main concernMain concern
Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, is not eligible to run for prime minister but wields considerable influence in the party.Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, is not eligible to run for prime minister but wields considerable influence in the party.
Under the terms of the power-sharing deal, the new government will press for the re-instatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf in November - a key PML-N demand.Under the terms of the power-sharing deal, the new government will press for the re-instatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf in November - a key PML-N demand.
The PML-N in turn has agreed to take up posts in the cabinet, as demanded by the PPP.The PML-N in turn has agreed to take up posts in the cabinet, as demanded by the PPP.
The coalition of the two parties and their smaller allies would still lack the two-thirds majority required should they wish to impeach President Musharraf.The coalition of the two parties and their smaller allies would still lack the two-thirds majority required should they wish to impeach President Musharraf.
However, they command enough support to undermine his authority in parliament.However, they command enough support to undermine his authority in parliament.
Coalition leaders have threatened to curtail the president's powers, though it is unclear how far they will go.Coalition leaders have threatened to curtail the president's powers, though it is unclear how far they will go.
Mr Musharraf was re-elected as president last year in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the opposition as unconstitutional.Mr Musharraf was re-elected as president last year in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the opposition as unconstitutional.
The new government's most pressing concern is likely to be an Islamist insurgency that has claimed scores of lives in bomb attacks in the last few weeks.The new government's most pressing concern is likely to be an Islamist insurgency that has claimed scores of lives in bomb attacks in the last few weeks.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been a key US ally in the "war on terror" and Washington hopes the new government will continue to work with it.Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been a key US ally in the "war on terror" and Washington hopes the new government will continue to work with it.