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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bhutto vows early Pakistan return | Bhutto vows early Pakistan return |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto says she will return to the country "very soon", despite having reached no power-sharing deal with the government. | Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto says she will return to the country "very soon", despite having reached no power-sharing deal with the government. |
| Ms Bhutto had been in talks to become PM again, with beleaguered Gen Pervez Musharraf stepping down as army chief but seeking a new term as president. | Ms Bhutto had been in talks to become PM again, with beleaguered Gen Pervez Musharraf stepping down as army chief but seeking a new term as president. |
| Ms Bhutto said she would announce the date of her return on 14 September. | Ms Bhutto said she would announce the date of her return on 14 September. |
| Another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, has announced he will return on 10 September to challenge Gen Musharraf. | Another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, has announced he will return on 10 September to challenge Gen Musharraf. |
| Corruption charges | Corruption charges |
| Ms Bhutto was speaking at a press conference in London, where she had been meeting key officials of her Pakistan People's Party. | Ms Bhutto was speaking at a press conference in London, where she had been meeting key officials of her Pakistan People's Party. |
| KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return10 Sep: Date Mr Sharif says he will return14 Sept: Date Ms Bhutto will announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliamentOctober: Parliament expires and general election must be held Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis | KEY DATES 23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return10 Sep: Date Mr Sharif says he will return14 Sept: Date Ms Bhutto will announce details of her homecoming15 Sep-15 Oct: Timeframe Gen Musharraf has set for his re-election as president by parliamentOctober: Parliament expires and general election must be held Bhutto's extraordinary career Q&A: Political crisis |
| Ms Bhutto said: "We have been in contact with the present regime on the restoration of democracy." | Ms Bhutto said: "We have been in contact with the present regime on the restoration of democracy." |
| She said the talks were "80% successful" but that differences remained on "the sovereignty of parliament and the presidential and parliamentary elections". | She said the talks were "80% successful" but that differences remained on "the sovereignty of parliament and the presidential and parliamentary elections". |
| Ms Bhutto added: "We are making our own plans to return to the country." | Ms Bhutto added: "We are making our own plans to return to the country." |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says by delaying the announcement of her return to 14 September, Ms Bhutto has left a window of opportunity for talks with Gen Musharraf to resume. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says by delaying the announcement of her return to 14 September, Ms Bhutto has left a window of opportunity for talks with Gen Musharraf to resume. |
| Ms Bhutto said Pakistan needed "internal reconciliation". | Ms Bhutto said Pakistan needed "internal reconciliation". |
| "We must return to the roots of moderation and democracy and ensuring governmental authority the length and breadth of the country," she said. | "We must return to the roots of moderation and democracy and ensuring governmental authority the length and breadth of the country," she said. |
| There was no immediate statement from Gen Musharraf's office, but senior ruling party officials reacted coolly to Ms Bhutto's announcement. | |
| Azim Chaudhry of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q party blamed her for failing to reach a deal with Gen Musharraf, and said "she was asking too many concessions". | |
| Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem told AFP news agency her announcement was "hollow slogans and rhetoric". | |
| Coup | Coup |
| Gen Musharraf is seeking support in his hopes to be re-elected as president. | Gen Musharraf is seeking support in his hopes to be re-elected as president. |
| But he is under pressure, including from the US, to honour a commitment to stand down as army chief. | But he is under pressure, including from the US, to honour a commitment to stand down as army chief. |
| Gen Musharraf has also suffered a number of legal setbacks, including a Supreme Court ruling that the exiled Mr Sharif can return. | Gen Musharraf has also suffered a number of legal setbacks, including a Supreme Court ruling that the exiled Mr Sharif can return. |
| Gen Musharraf overthrew Mr Sharif in a coup in 1999. The former PM was jailed for life but then exiled. He could still face arrest when he returns. | Gen Musharraf overthrew Mr Sharif in a coup in 1999. The former PM was jailed for life but then exiled. He could still face arrest when he returns. |
| Under current Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif. | Under current Pakistani law, prime ministers cannot serve more than two terms - which would disqualify both Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif. |
| At her press conference, Ms Bhutto said Mr Sharif had embarked on a "personal vendetta" against Gen Musharraf. | At her press conference, Ms Bhutto said Mr Sharif had embarked on a "personal vendetta" against Gen Musharraf. |
| Ms Bhutto has served two terms as prime minister - from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. | |
| She was dismissed for alleged corruption on both occasions but has steadfastly denied all accusations. She left Pakistan in 1999 and has not returned. | |
| Although she has not been convicted, corruption charges still hang over her. |