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Musharraf book amid coup rumours Musharraf memoirs launched in US
(20 minutes later)
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has launched his memoirs in the United States a day after rumours of a coup swept through Pakistan. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has launched his memoirs in the United States, a day after rumours of a coup swept through his country.
In the Line of Fire explains why Gen Musharraf ended his support for the Taleban after the 11 September attacks.In the Line of Fire explains why Gen Musharraf ended his support for the Taleban after the 11 September attacks.
But an unusually extensive power outage on Sunday, which affected TV stations and the internet, raised suspicions of a coup - quickly denied by officials. He has said the US threatened to bomb Pakistan "back to the Stone Age" unless it joined the fight against al-Qaeda.
On Sunday, an unusually extensive power outage across Pakistan fuelled rumours of a coup, quickly denied by officials.
In the past, military coups have been accompanied by information clampdowns.In the past, military coups have been accompanied by information clampdowns.
We are a stable country, not a banana republic President Pervez MusharrafWe are a stable country, not a banana republic President Pervez Musharraf
Gen Musharraf himself seized control of Pakistan in a bloodless coup seven years ago.Gen Musharraf himself seized control of Pakistan in a bloodless coup seven years ago.
'Sensational claims'
Before the book hit the bookshops, he said the US warning had been delivered by former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Pakistan's intelligence director.
Mr Armitage, however, denied this account.
"I would never say that. I don't command aircraft and I didn't have the authorisation," he told the BBC last week.
The opposition accuse Gen Musharraf of being autocratic
President George W Bush has said he was "taken aback" by Gen Musharraf's allegations.
Now that the book is out, Mr Musharraf must respond to some of the strongest criticism and denials about his sensational claims, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Washington.
President Musharraf's claims about the Pakistani army's "landmark" performance during the Kargil conflict in 1999 have also drawn a swift reaction in India, our correspondent says.
The renewed controversy over who started the Kargil conflict and why comes a week after the two countries decided to resume peace talks.
'Perfectly fit'
Sunday's blackout was followed by reports that the Pakistani leader was undergoing a medical check-up in Texas.Sunday's blackout was followed by reports that the Pakistani leader was undergoing a medical check-up in Texas.
All this raised speculation to a fever pitch, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.All this raised speculation to a fever pitch, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.
'Perfectly fit'
Journalists were inundated with phone calls from people who wanted to know if power was changing hands in Islamabad.Journalists were inundated with phone calls from people who wanted to know if power was changing hands in Islamabad.
Officials strongly denied the rumours, saying the president was having a routine physical examination and he was perfectly fit.Officials strongly denied the rumours, saying the president was having a routine physical examination and he was perfectly fit.
They said the blackout had been triggered by the breakdown of a transmission line, not sabotage.They said the blackout had been triggered by the breakdown of a transmission line, not sabotage.
Speaking from the US, Gen Musharraf called the rumours "nonsense," saying, "We are a stable country, not a banana republic." Speaking from the US, Gen Musharraf called the rumours "nonsense".
However, our correspondent says that the fear rippling through Pakistan was taken by opposition leaders as further proof of what they have long charged - that behind the pro-Western rhetoric of enlightenment and moderation stands an autocratic regime, ruled by one man. "We are a stable country, not a banana republic," he said.
However, our correspondent says the fear rippling through Pakistan was taken by opposition leaders as further proof of what they have long charged - that behind the pro-Western rhetoric stands an autocratic regime.