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Pakistan's Musharraf steps down Pakistan's Musharraf steps down
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing impeachment by parliament, has announced that he is resigning. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing impeachment on charges drawn up by the governing coalition, has announced that he is resigning.
In a national televised address he said he was confident the charges against him would not stand, but that this was not the time for more confrontation. He went on national TV to say that while he was confident the charges would not stand, this was not the time for more confrontation.
The charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct. He is accused of violation of the constitution and gross misconduct.
Mr Musharraf has been a key ally of the US in its war against Islamist extremism, following the 9/11 attacks. Mr Musharraf has been a key ally of the US in its "war on terror" since he took power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
Reaction in Pakistan is overwhelmingly one of relief that a bruising and lengthy impeachment battle has been avoided, the BBC's Mark Dummett reports from Islamabad.
I leave myself in the hands of the people Pervez MusharrafPakistani president Resignation speech excerptsReaction in quotes
The key issue now is whether the ruling coalition, which had pushed for Mr Musharraf's exit since winning the February election, can stay united and deliver on its promises, he says.
It will have to agree on a new president, then persuade allies like the US and UK, and its neighbours like India and Afghanistan, that it will be committed to defeating militancy and terrorism, our correspondent adds.
International reaction to Mr Musharraf's resignation was mixed, with the US hailing him as strong ally against terrorism but Afghanistan welcoming his departure as a boost to democracy.
'No bravado''No bravado'
Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, President Musharraf said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers.Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, President Musharraf said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers.
The tone of his speech was defiant. Lawyers in Karachi danced in jubilation at news of the resignation
class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567592.stm">Musharraf's mixed legacy class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567734.stm">Resignation speech excerpts class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567662.stm">Strongman and war on terror class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567971.stm">Reaction in quotes In a defiant speech, he said he had believed it was his destiny to save Pakistan, helped by God, and that he had prevented it from being declared a terrorist state.
Mr Musharraf said he had believed it was his destiny to save Pakistan, helped by God, and that he had prevented it from being declared a terrorist state. In a clear reference to his political opponents, he accused unnamed elements of putting themselves above the country and seeking to betray it.
In a clear reference to the leaders of the big political parties who have opposed him, Mr Musharraf said there were some elements who considered themselves more important than Pakistan and who were trying to betray the country. "Not a single charge can be proved against me," he said, while conceding he had made mistakes.
He said their allegations against him were false, and that his appeals for reconciliation with his opponents had fallen on deaf ears. An impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty, he said, and it was no time for "individual bravado".
"Not a single charge can be proved against me," he said, adding that although he had make mistakes he had always put Pakistan first. The outgoing president listed social, economic and infrastructural improvements made during his rule.
Mr Musharraf said the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty and that this was "not the time for individual bravado". "I leave myself in the hands of the people," he concluded.
He defended his actions since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1999, and went into elaborate detail about what, he said, were the social, economic and infrastructural improvements made during his rule. "I leave myself in the hands of the people," he said. Cheering crowds poured into the streets of Pakistan's big cities to celebrate Mr Musharraf's departure. In Karachi, lawyers danced in jubilation.
In Pakistan, there are reports of people dancing in celebration at the news of Mr Musharraf's decision to step down. 'A friend to the US'
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says the reaction is overwhelmingly one of relief - that a bruising and lengthy impeachment battle has been avoided. Once Mr Musharraf's resignation letter is received and accepted by the speaker of Pakistan's lower house of parliament, the speaker of the upper house will take over as acting president.
There is also now hope that the governing parties, which defeated President Musharraf's supporters in elections in February and have pushed for his exit ever since, can now turn their attention to the most critical issues facing the country - the faltering economy and the growing threat of armed extremists. MUSHARRAF KEY DATES 12 Oct 1999: Deposes PM Nawaz Sharif in coup20 June 2001: Names himself president while remaining head of the army12 Jan 2002: Declares war against extremism in Pakistan14 December 2003: Survives first of several assassination plots3 November 2007: Declares state of emergency before judiciary can rule on his re-election as president28 November 2007: Steps down as army chief to become a civilian president18 August 2008: Announces he will resign as president class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567592.stm">Musharraf's mixed legacy class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7567662.stm">Strongman and war on terror class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7567891.stm">Musharraf's career
What happens next? He is Muhammad Mian Sumroo, a member of the pro-Musharraf faction of the Pakistan Muslim League.
President Musharraf's resignation letter will be received by the speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly - the lower house of parliament.
Once the resignation is accepted, the chairman of the upper house of parliament, the Senate, will take over as acting president.
He is Muhammad Mian Sumroo, a politician from Sindh province, who belongs to the pro-Musharraf faction of the Pakistan Muslim League.
The new president must be elected by both houses of Pakistan's parliament and the four provincial assemblies.The new president must be elected by both houses of Pakistan's parliament and the four provincial assemblies.
MUSHARRAF KEY DATES 12 Oct 1999: Deposes PM Nawaz Sharif in coup20 June 2001: Names himself president while remaining head of the army12 Jan 2002: Declares war against extremism in Pakistan14 December 2003: Survives first of several assassination plots3 November 2007: Declares state of emergency before judiciary can rule on his re-election as president28 November 2007: Steps down as army chief to become a civilian president18 August 2008: Announces he will resign as president Reacting to news of the resignation, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised him as a "friend to the United States and one of the world's most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism".
In early international reaction, the UK prime minister's spokesman suggested that London was already moving on - UK-Pakistani relations had deepened during Mr Musharraf's presidency, he said, but those relations did not depend on individuals. She said the US would work with Pakistan's new leaders, pressing on them the need to stem "the growth of extremism".
Neighbouring Afghanistan, whose own President Hamid Karzai had a very fraught relationship with Mr Musharraf, welcomed his departure. The UK government wished Mr Musharraf well but stressed that relations did not depend on one individual.
The foreign ministry said it hoped the resignation would strengthen democracy in Pakistan and Afghanistan. India said it had no comment to make on the resignation since it was an internal matter of Pakistan.
In a terse statement, the Indian foreign ministry said it had no comments to make on the resignation of Pervez Musharraf since it was an internal matter for Pakistan. Neighbouring Afghanistan, whose own President, Hamid Karzai, had a very fraught relationship with Mr Musharraf, hoped his departure would boost democracy in both countries.
The BBC's world affairs correspondent, Nick Childs, says Washington and London had got used to dealing with a single strongman, and one with whom the US and British leaders were able to develop a personal rapport.
But the governing coalition of Mr Musharraf's opponents has been notably fragile and fractious and Washington, London, and neighbouring capitals like Delhi, Kabul, and Beijing, will be watching to see who emerges as the key figure or figures and what signals they send, our correspondent says.
Mounting pressureMounting pressure
Mr Musharraf's resignation follows a turbulent year. Mr Musharraf's resignation followed more than a year of turbulence.
His troubles grew last year when he took on the judiciary, suspending the chief justice in March. After widespread strikes and protests, his decision was overturned by the Supreme Court. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYThis is a shame for Pakistan; Musharraf was cleaning up the 49-year-old messSalman Lalwani, Houston, USA class="" href="Jhttp://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5238&edition=2&ttl=20080818131855">Send us your comments
Mr Musharraf won the presidential election in October - but the Supreme Court refused to confirm the result, saying it first had to rule on his eligibility to stand in the poll, while he remained army chief. The unrest began last March when he confronted the judiciary, suspending the chief justice. After widespread strikes and protests, his decision was overturned by the Supreme Court.
Eventually, in November, he declared a state of emergency, citing increasing attacks by militants. Mr Musharraf won the presidential election in October - but the Supreme Court refused to confirm the result.
Mr Musharraf used the new powers to replace the judges who opposed him. In November, he declared a state of emergency, citing increasing attacks by militants but eventually stood down as head of the army, giving up his main power base.
But the pressure mounted, reinforced by the return of the two main opposition leaders, former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. The parliamentary election this February, handed a clear victory to the two main opposition parties.
He stood down as head of the army - giving up his main power base - and was sworn in as a civilian president. The coalition struck a deal to impeach the president earlier this month and finalised their charges against him hours before he stepped down.
Parliamentary elections, which he had already delayed, were again postponed after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto - but when they eventually went ahead in February, the two main opposition parties took a clear victory.
After lengthy talks, they agreed to form a coalition - and earlier this month struck a deal to impeach the president - a move which forced his resignation.
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