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| Pakistan's Musharraf steps down | Pakistan's Musharraf steps down |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing impeachment by parliament, has announced that he is resigning. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing impeachment by parliament, has announced that he is resigning. |
| In a national televised address he said he was confident the charges against him would not stand, but this was not the time for more confrontation. | In a national televised address he said he was confident the charges against him would not stand, but this was not the time for more confrontation. |
| The charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct. | The charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct. |
| He has been one of the United States' strongest allies in its war against Islamist extremism. | He has been one of the United States' strongest allies in its war against Islamist extremism. |
| His political rivals swept to power last February in national and provincial elections after months of political confrontation and worsening militant violence. | His political rivals swept to power last February in national and provincial elections after months of political confrontation and worsening militant violence. |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf's resignation marks the end of an era for a country facing enormous economic and security challenges. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf's resignation marks the end of an era for a country facing enormous economic and security challenges. |
| 'No bravado' | 'No bravado' |
| Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, the embattled president said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers. | |
| Musharraf's mixed legacyResignation speech excerpts class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567662.stm">Strongman and war on terror | |
| Mr Musharraf said his appeals for reconciliation with his opponents had fallen on deaf ears. | Mr Musharraf said his appeals for reconciliation with his opponents had fallen on deaf ears. |
| He was not afraid of the impeachment charges he is facing, he said. "Not a single charge can be proved against me." | He was not afraid of the impeachment charges he is facing, he said. "Not a single charge can be proved against me." |
| But he said the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty. "This is not the time for individual bravado." | But he said the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty. "This is not the time for individual bravado." |
| He said whatever mistakes he had made in office were unintentional and that "I leave myself in the hands of the people". | He said whatever mistakes he had made in office were unintentional and that "I leave myself in the hands of the people". |
| 'False allegations' | 'False allegations' |
| He began his address by saying 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 began his address by saying 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". |
| He gave a long defence of the country's economic record, detailing the progress he said it had made under his rule. | He gave 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 decided to address the nation as ministers warned over the weekend that impeachment proceedings against him could begin as early as Tuesday of this week. | Mr Musharraf decided to address the nation as ministers warned over the weekend that impeachment proceedings against him could begin as early as Tuesday of this week. |
| The drive to impeach him has been led by Nawaz Sharif, the head of Pakistan's second biggest political party, the PML-N. It was Mr Sharif who President Musharraf, then head of the army, deposed in a bloodless coup in 1999. | The drive to impeach him has been led by Nawaz Sharif, the head of Pakistan's second biggest political party, the PML-N. It was Mr Sharif who President Musharraf, then head of the army, deposed 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. |
| Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to President Musharraf's statement? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to President Musharraf's statement? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |