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| Musharraf unveils new interim PM | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has named the chairman of the country's Senate as his caretaker prime minister to oversee elections in January. | |
| Mohammedmian Soomro will take up his position once the current parliament's term expires at midnight (1900 GMT). | |
| The announcement came as the Supreme Court heard a challenge to emergency rule imposed earlier this month. | |
| The court is also due to rule on whether Gen Musharraf's re-election as president last month was legal. | The court is also due to rule on whether Gen Musharraf's re-election as president last month was legal. |
| The most crucial issue at this moment in time is Pakistan - Pakistan's stability and Pakistan's democratic transition Gen Musharraf | |
| Correspondents say he is expected to win both cases after changing the make-up of the court when he declared the emergency on 3 November, sacking several judges who had shown judicial independence. | Correspondents say he is expected to win both cases after changing the make-up of the court when he declared the emergency on 3 November, sacking several judges who had shown judicial independence. |
| Speaking on state television earlier on Thursday, Gen Musharraf defended his decision to impose the emergency, and said he wanted to see democracy in Pakistan. | |
| "The most crucial issue at this moment in time is Pakistan - Pakistan's stability and Pakistan's democratic transition. | |
| "This is very important, and we must do everything to ensure this transition takes place." | |
| Media restrictions | Media restrictions |
| Separately, Pakistan's attorney general has said that he expects President Musharraf to resign as head of the army before 1 December. | |
| Ms Bhutto has ruled out a power-sharing deal with Gen Musharraf | Ms Bhutto has ruled out a power-sharing deal with Gen Musharraf |
| Gen Musharraf has promised to step down once the Supreme Court validates his new term as president. A decision is expected in the next few days. | Gen Musharraf has promised to step down once the Supreme Court validates his new term as president. A decision is expected in the next few days. |
| It comes as the two main opposition leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, say they have begun talks on forming an alliance. | It comes as the two main opposition leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, say they have begun talks on forming an alliance. |
| Ms Bhutto, who is under house arrest in Lahore, says she has ruled out the possibility of sharing power with Gen Musharraf, whom she accuses of taking Pakistan back towards military dictatorship. | Ms Bhutto, who is under house arrest in Lahore, says she has ruled out the possibility of sharing power with Gen Musharraf, whom she accuses of taking Pakistan back towards military dictatorship. |
| Meanwhile, the international television channels BBC and CNN have returned to Pakistani screens, and two of the four main national news channels are back on air. | Meanwhile, the international television channels BBC and CNN have returned to Pakistani screens, and two of the four main national news channels are back on air. |
| The government took the independent broadcast media off cable channels as part of strict curbs under the state of emergency. | The government took the independent broadcast media off cable channels as part of strict curbs under the state of emergency. |
| Gen Musharraf had accused some broadcasters of adding to the political uncertainty that led to emergency rule. | Gen Musharraf had accused some broadcasters of adding to the political uncertainty that led to emergency rule. |
| The move to reinstate the services comes a day before an expected visit by US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. | The move to reinstate the services comes a day before an expected visit by US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. |
| The United States has strongly criticised Pakistan's clampdown on the media and on opposition activists. | The United States has strongly criticised Pakistan's clampdown on the media and on opposition activists. |