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Musharraf re-election forms filed Musharraf re-election forms filed
(30 minutes later)
Pakistan's prime minister has filed papers nominating President Pervez Musharraf to contest the presidential elections on 6 October.Pakistan's prime minister has filed papers nominating President Pervez Musharraf to contest the presidential elections on 6 October.
Shaukat Aziz and other senior figures from the government filed the papers at the Election Commission in Islamabad.Shaukat Aziz and other senior figures from the government filed the papers at the Election Commission in Islamabad.
"This is a significant day for Pakistan," Mr Aziz told a TV reporter."This is a significant day for Pakistan," Mr Aziz told a TV reporter.
General Musharraf will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term, his lawyer has told the Supreme Court.General Musharraf will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term, his lawyer has told the Supreme Court.
Correspondents say Gen Musharraf's nomination papers were filed amid political uncertainty in Pakistan.
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether he can stand for election while holding the posts of both president and army chief.
Growing opposition to military rule has also come to a head.
KEY DATES 27 Sep: President Musharraf files nomination papers for presidential election 29 Sep: Date some opposition parties to begin boycotting parliament 06 Oct: Presidential vote to be held, election commission says 18 Oct: Date ex-PM Benazir Bhutto has set for her homecoming 15 Nov: Parliamentary term ends and general election must be held
The US has called on Gen Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair.
Prime Minister Aziz said he was confident that the president would win the election.
"President Pervez Musharraf is the candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League and its allies and we are fully confident that he will succeed and this will be very important for Pakistan and the region," Reuters quoted him as saying.
'Troubling'
Pakistan federal information minister Tariq Azim said Gen Musharraf's forms carry his name without his army rank, quashing speculation that the president has described himself as General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf.
Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf has promised that he would resign as head of the army if he were elected president for another term.
Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum has denied the president had any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy did not go according to plan.
In recent days security forces have arrested hundreds of activists and blocked roads leading to the capital.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US government, a close ally of President Musharraf, found the detentions "troubling".
Correspondents say the big question now is what happens if he is not elected.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the general is determined to prevent the opposition from taking to the streets to protest against his election bid.
Critics have said he is determined to cling to power, either as president or army chief, or both.