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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Bhutto upbeat over power-sharing | Bhutto upbeat over power-sharing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ex-Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she is "optimistic" of a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf. | Ex-Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto has said she is "optimistic" of a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf. |
| She said conditions over an amnesty on corruption charges against her had been verbally agreed with officials. | She said conditions over an amnesty on corruption charges against her had been verbally agreed with officials. |
| She said her party did not expect to join a boycott of a parliamentary vote on Saturday, which is expected to see Gen Musharraf re-elected as president. | She said her party did not expect to join a boycott of a parliamentary vote on Saturday, which is expected to see Gen Musharraf re-elected as president. |
| Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections in January. | Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan from self-exile on 18 October to fight general elections in January. |
| She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999. | She left Pakistan before Gen Musharraf took power in 1999. |
| A draft accord, which Ms Bhutto has approved, would be issued by Gen Musharraf on Friday, AFP news agency quoted Pakistan officials as saying late on Thursday. | |
| The draft national reconciliation document grants an amnesty to Ms Bhutto, paving the way for her return to the country and to Pakistani politics, AFP sources said. | |
| Credibility | Credibility |
| Earlier, following 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." | "Gen Musharraf has said he wants national reconciliation. We want that too. The nation should move from the past to a better future." |
| Gen Musharraf is aiming for presidential re-election on SaturdayShe said there had been "hectic negotiations and discussions and assurances" during which the terms for a written document, or ordinance, were agreed. | Gen Musharraf is aiming for presidential re-election on SaturdayShe said there had been "hectic negotiations and discussions and assurances" during which the terms for a written document, or ordinance, were agreed. |
| Ms Bhutto said: "If the national reconciliation ordinance is accordingly worded, we expect there will be an understanding on a transition towards democracy." | Ms Bhutto said: "If the national reconciliation ordinance is accordingly worded, we expect there will be an understanding on a transition towards democracy." |
| She added that if the deal was completed she would not carry through a threat to withdraw the PPP, the country's largest party, from parliament. | She added that if the deal was completed she would not carry through a threat to withdraw the PPP, the country's largest party, from parliament. |
| Such a mass resignation threatened to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote. | Such a mass resignation threatened to undermine the credibility of Saturday's vote. |
| "We will either contest the elections or we will abstain from the voting," she said. | "We will either contest the elections or we will abstain from the voting," she said. |
| But Ms Bhutto made clear that PPP members would not be voting for Gen Musharraf as he was "a uniformed president". | But Ms Bhutto made clear that PPP members would not be voting for Gen Musharraf as he was "a uniformed president". |
| Ms Bhutto had demanded that Gen Musharraf step down as head of the army. | Ms Bhutto had demanded that Gen Musharraf step down as head of the army. |
| Correspondents say that his pledge to resign and be sworn in as a civilian if re-elected has been enough to reassure Ms Bhutto. | Correspondents say that his pledge to resign and be sworn in as a civilian if re-elected has been enough to reassure Ms Bhutto. |
| Popular support | Popular support |
| Scores of opposition MPs have resigned from Pakistan's national parliament and provincial assemblies in protest at Saturday's election. | Scores of opposition MPs have resigned from Pakistan's national parliament and provincial assemblies in protest at Saturday's election. |
| They insist that Gen Musharraf is ineligible to stand while also remaining army chief. | They insist that Gen Musharraf is ineligible to stand while also remaining army chief. |
| KEY DATES 2 Oct: Date main opposition alliance began boycotting assemblies 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 Send us your comments | KEY DATES 2 Oct: Date main opposition alliance began boycotting assemblies 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 Send us your comments |
| In Islamabad, Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the government was close to an agreement on power-sharing and that "things are going in the right direction". | In Islamabad, Pakistan cabinet minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the government was close to an agreement on power-sharing and that "things are going in the right direction". |
| 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 and political rival Nawaz Sharif have both been premier twice before. | 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 premier 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. |