Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is under pressure to resign before being impeached by parliament, is giving a live TV address to the nation.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is under pressure to resign before being impeached by parliament, is giving a live TV address to the nation.
Mr Musharraf said he had always put the interests of Pakistan and its people first and accused people of making false accusations against him.
Mr Musharraf said he had always put the interests of Pakistan and its people first and accused people of making false accusations against him.
Government ministers say he faces impeachment charges unless he quits.
Government ministers say he faces impeachment charges unless he quits.
Draft charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct, officials say.
Draft charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct, officials say.
Truth and lies
Truth and lies
Mr Musharraf said that when he took over in a military coup in 1999, Pakistan was going to be declared a failed state and faced great economic challenges.
Mr Musharraf said that when he took over in a military coup in 1999, Pakistan was going to be declared a failed state and faced great economic challenges.
He said that "false allegations were made against me" by people who "tried to turn the truth into lies".
He said that "false allegations were made against me" by people who "tried to turn the truth into lies".
Dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, he then started a long defence of the country's economic record, detailing the progress he said it had made under his rule.
Dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, he then started a long defence of the country's economic record, detailing the progress he said it had made under his rule.
He said the problems Pakistan faced could be solved if people worked together and believed in themselves.
He said the problems Pakistan faced could be solved if people worked together and believed in themselves.
Mr Musharraf, the former army chief and a key ally in Washington's war on terror, came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
Mr Musharraf, the former army chief and a key ally in Washington's war on terror, came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
He was forced to give up control of the armed forces last year.
He was forced to give up control of the armed forces last year.
The president's public standing suffered a huge setback in 2007 when he sacked Pakistan's chief justice and nearly 60 judges to prevent them from overturning his re-election as president.
The president's public standing suffered a huge setback in 2007 when he sacked Pakistan's chief justice and nearly 60 judges to prevent them from overturning his re-election as president.
But analysts say the president is still thought to have heavy influence over the military and its reaction will remain crucial.
But analysts say the president is still thought to have heavy influence over the military and its reaction will remain crucial.
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