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| Bhutto house arrest order lifted | Bhutto house arrest order lifted |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest in the capital, Islamabad. | Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest in the capital, Islamabad. |
| The order was imposed early on Friday, blocking Ms Bhutto's attempt to lead a rally against the emergency rule declared by President Pervez Musharraf. | The order was imposed early on Friday, blocking Ms Bhutto's attempt to lead a rally against the emergency rule declared by President Pervez Musharraf. |
| The United States had criticised the house arrest, saying that she must be "permitted freedom of movement". | |
| Ms Bhutto has vowed to wage a campaign aimed at forcing Gen Musharraf to stand down as head of the army. | |
| Democratic credentials | |
| A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday. | A three-day detention order was served on the former prime minister after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday. |
| Police had surrounded the house early in the morning with roadblocks and coils of barbed wire to prevent her from addressing a rally in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi. | Police had surrounded the house early in the morning with roadblocks and coils of barbed wire to prevent her from addressing a rally in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi. |
| PPP supporters were rounded up by police in Islamabad on FridayUnder emergency rule announced last week, such public gatherings have been banned. | |
| Officials said it was a temporary measure because of a fear of suicide bombers attacking the planned rally, and that it would be lifted by Saturday. | Officials said it was a temporary measure because of a fear of suicide bombers attacking the planned rally, and that it would be lifted by Saturday. |
| Last month a suicide bomber killed nearly 140 people at a mass gathering as Ms Bhutto returned home from exile. | |
| Ms Bhutto made several attempts to leave her home but was turned back. She finally emerged to address the media through a megaphone from behind the barricades. | Ms Bhutto made several attempts to leave her home but was turned back. She finally emerged to address the media through a megaphone from behind the barricades. |
| She repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January. | She repeated opposition demands that Gen Musharraf should lift the state of emergency, resign as army chief and hold elections by mid-January. |
| "We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary," she said. | "We are calling for the revival of our constitution and respect for our judiciary," she said. |
| "We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November." | "We are calling for General Musharraf to keep his commitment and retire as chief of army staff on 15 November." |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says it has been a good day for Ms Bhutto, bolstering her democratic credentials at a time when other opposition parties still believe she plans to do a deal with Gen Musharraf. | |
| Our correspondent says she is putting him under pressure at home while his Western allies are putting him under pressure abroad. | Our correspondent says she is putting him under pressure at home while his Western allies are putting him under pressure abroad. |
| White House concern | |
| Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said 5,000 of its activists had been arrested since the weekend, and that police detained about 100 people outside her residence on Friday. | |
| The United States, which has been the principal backer of Gen Musharraf in his fight against pro-Taleban militants, was quick to criticise the restrictions on Ms Bhutto. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The situation in Pakistan is deteriorating more than most people imagine Omer Salim Khan, Lahore Send us your comments | |
| "Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. | |
| "We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan's authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms." |