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UN chief and Pakistan envoy clash Pakistan rivals discuss next move
(about 5 hours later)
The UN secretary general has clashed with the Pakistani ambassador to the UN over President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has begun talks with other opposition leaders to plan how to overturn the country's emergency rule.
Ambassador Munir Akram complained that Ban Ki-moon was meddling in Pakistan's affairs by saying the country should return to democratic rule. Her party has so far refrained from street protests, but is planning a rally for Friday. The mayor of Rawalpindi says it will be stopped.
But after meeting Mr Akram, Mr Ban repeated his concerns. A top official from President Pervez Musharraf's party said emergency rule might only last two or three weeks.
He joined Pakistan ex-PM Benazir Bhutto in saying Gen Musharraf should resign as army chief and hold elections. But a BBC correspondent says the party has been giving conflicting signals.
Ms Bhutto, who has been negotiating a power-sharing deal with the president, said on Tuesday that she had no plans to meet Gen Musharraf. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, told the Dawn newspaper: "I'm sure it will end in two to three weeks as President Pervez Musharraf is aware of the consequences of long emergency rule."
She is currently in Islamabad to discuss the crisis with other opposition leaders. But there appears to be a split between those members of the party advocating that parliamentary elections should be held on schedule - by mid-January - and those who want them postponed, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in the capital, Islamabad.
'Regret' Threat to rally
Mr Ban relayed to reporters what he had told Mr Akram at their meeting on Tuesday. Benazir Bhutto is in Islamabad for talks with other opposition leaders.
"I again expressed my deep concern and regret [at] what had happened in Pakistan. The United Council of Action - a religious political alliance - was present but the PML-N party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif refused to attend.
We think it's an internal matter and the United Nations has no business to pronounce itself on that Munir AkramPakistan's ambassador to the UN class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7079180.stm">Pakistanis anxious and angry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7077505.stm">West faces new dilemma So far Ms Bhutto has not mobilised her supporters to join street protests, which have been led by lawyers and civil rights activists.
"I also urged strongly that the Pakistani government should return to democratic rule and procedures as soon as possible," Mr Ban said. The Pakistani government should return to democratic rule and procedures as soon as possible Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary General class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7079180.stm">Pakistanis anxious and angry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7077505.stm">West faces new dilemma
He called for the release of political leaders and lawyers detained during the crisis in Pakistan and for restrictions on the media to be removed. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested as police have stamped out demonstrations.
But Mr Akram told the BBC that Pakistan's emergency did not have implications for international peace and security and was therefore outside the UN's remit. Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has vowed to hold a rally on Friday in Rawalpindi, just outside the Pakistani capital, despite a ban on such demonstrations.
Violent clashes between police and lawyers have continued in Pakistan The aim is to increase pressure on President Musharraf to meet her two main demands - to give up his role as head of the army, and to hold elections - says the BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad.
"We think it's an internal matter and the United Nations has no business to pronounce itself on that," he said. "We denounce the government ban, and want to make it clear that our supporters and leaders will reach Rawalpindi for the rally," Babar Awan, a senior PPP member, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.
However, the mayor of Rawalpindi, Javed Akhlas, vowed: "We will ensure that they don't violate the ban on rallies, and if they do it, the government will take action according to the law."
He told AP there was a "strong threat" of another suicide bomb attack against Ms Bhutto, who survived an assassination attempt on 18 October that killed more than 140 people.
Diplomatic row
Meanwhile the diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to end its state of emergency continues.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has insisted the country should return to civilian democratic rule.
Protests have been continuing, with many participants being arrestedHe called for the release of political leaders and lawyers detained during the crisis in Pakistan and for restrictions on the media to be removed.
Pakistan's ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, dismissed the demands.
"We think it's an internal matter and the United Nations has no business to pronounce itself on that," he told the BBC.
The UN Security Council, meanwhile, has been silent on Pakistan, in contrast to the stance it has taken recently over Burma, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN.The UN Security Council, meanwhile, has been silent on Pakistan, in contrast to the stance it has taken recently over Burma, says the BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN.
The Security Council's mission is to deal with threats to international peace and security.The Security Council's mission is to deal with threats to international peace and security.
But Pakistan is seen as a country where the US has influence and is actively applying pressure, our correspondent says.But Pakistan is seen as a country where the US has influence and is actively applying pressure, our correspondent says.
Diplomats say it is not clear what the Security Council could do.
President Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday.
Crackdown
The Pakistani mission to the UN said Mr Akram had explained to Mr Ban "the grave and multiple challenges which had compelled the government of Pakistan to declare the emergency".
It said the emergency measures were "restricted" in scope.
"Governance continues as close as possible to the constitution with the cabinet, assemblies, governors and other organs of the state functioning normally," the mission said in a statement.
"Pakistan remains committed to restore normalcy, rule of law and democracy."
The Pakistani government's crackdown on pro-democracy activists continued on Tuesday with dozens of arrests reported.The Pakistani government's crackdown on pro-democracy activists continued on Tuesday with dozens of arrests reported.
The country's sacked chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, called for his countrymen to "rise up" and restore the constitution.The country's sacked chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, called for his countrymen to "rise up" and restore the constitution.