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Bhutto hints at power-share deal Bhutto hints at power-share deal
(30 minutes later)
Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she expects a breakthrough on Thursday on power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf.Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she expects a breakthrough on Thursday on power-sharing talks with President Pervez Musharraf.
Ms Bhutto said in London that she expected to be given an amnesty on corruption charges against her. Ms Bhutto said she expected to be given an amnesty on corruption charges.
Gen Musharraf is expected to be re-elected president by legislators on Saturday but wants Ms Bhutto to stop any boycott of the vote by her MPs. In return Gen Musharraf wants Ms Bhutto to stop any boycott of a parliamentary vote on Saturday which is expected to re-elect him president.
Ms Bhutto has lived in self-exile since before the general took power in 1999. Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections.
She has pledged to return to Pakistan on 18 October to fight general elections. She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999.
CredibilityCredibility
Speaking ahead of talks with her opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in London, Ms Bhutto said: "We are expecting an ordinance today, yes.... There have been a lot of talks. We'll have an announcement later."Speaking ahead of talks with her opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in London, Ms Bhutto said: "We are expecting an ordinance today, yes.... There have been a lot of talks. We'll have an announcement later."
Her spokesman, Wajid Hasan, told Agence France-Presse news agency it was "definitely an amnesty". Her spokesman, Wajid Hasan, told Agence France-Presse news agency that the ordinance, or government order, was "definitely an amnesty".
Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said in Islamabad the government was close to an agreement on power-sharing. Gen Musharraf is aiming for presidential re-election on Saturday
Mr Hasan said he was expecting a draft document to be e-mailed from Pakistan.
In Islamabad, Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said the government was close to an agreement on power-sharing.
"Things are going in the right direction, as I have been saying for the past several days," Mr Ahmed said.
"Wait for five or six hours, and everything will be clear by that time."
Ms Bhutto's party had threatened a mass resignation of lawmakers to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote.Ms Bhutto's party had threatened a mass resignation of lawmakers to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote.
In addition to the amnesty, Ms Bhutto wants the president to give up his power to sack the prime minister.In addition to the amnesty, Ms Bhutto wants the president to give up his power to sack the prime minister.
She also wants the repeal of a law banning anyone from being prime minister for more that two terms.She also wants the repeal of a law banning anyone from being prime minister for more that two terms.
She and political rival Nawaz Sharif have both been prime minister twice before.She and political rival Nawaz Sharif have both been prime minister twice before.
Observers say Gen Musharraf wants a power-sharing agreement with the PPP, the country's largest party, to give him more popular support.
He will also hope for PPP support after the general election in which the ruling party is expected to fare badly, they say.