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| Bhutto upbeat over power-sharing | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ex-Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she is "optimistic" of a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf. | |
| But Ms Bhutto, who has demanded an amnesty on corruption charges against her, said nothing was yet finalised. | |
| 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 pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections. | Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections. |
| She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999. | She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999. |
| Credibility | Credibility |
| Speaking after talks with her opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in London, Ms Bhutto said: "We are optimistic today, but I cannot say everything is finalised. | |
| "Gen Musharraf has said he wants national reconciliation. We want that too. The nation should move from the past to a better future." | |
| Ms Bhutto said that if a deal were reached she would not carry through a threat to withdraw her party from parliament. | |
| Gen Musharraf is aiming for presidential re-election on Saturday | Gen Musharraf is aiming for presidential re-election on Saturday |
| Such a mass resignation threatened to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote. | |
| Earlier her spokesman, Wajid Hasan, told Agence France-Presse news agency that an ordinance, or government order, would be issued that was "definitely an amnesty". | |
| In Islamabad, Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad had 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. | "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." | "Wait for five or six hours, and everything will be clear by that time." |
| 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. | 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. | He will also hope for PPP support after the general election in which the ruling party is expected to fare badly, they say. |