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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Musharraf set to give up uniform | Musharraf set to give up uniform |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| President Pervez Musharraf has arrived at the army's general headquarters in Rawalpindi to hand over formally to his successor, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani. | |
| President Musharraf is standing down as head of Pakistan's army, after coming under intense international and domestic pressure. | |
| He is due to be sworn in as a civilian president on Thursday, after bidding farewell to his troops on Tuesday. | He is due to be sworn in as a civilian president on Thursday, after bidding farewell to his troops on Tuesday. |
| The move will mean an end to eight years of military rule in Pakistan. | The move will mean an end to eight years of military rule in Pakistan. |
| It is a step which will meet a key demand of the international community, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Lahore. | It is a step which will meet a key demand of the international community, reports the BBC's John Sudworth in Lahore. |
| But, he says, it is unlikely to placate Pakistan's opposition leaders. | But, he says, it is unlikely to placate Pakistan's opposition leaders. |
| Among them is Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister thrown out of office in 1999 when Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup. | Among them is Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister thrown out of office in 1999 when Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup. |
| US pressure | US pressure |
| Gen Musharraf designated Gen Kiani, a former head of the intelligence services, as his successor as army head in October. | Gen Musharraf designated Gen Kiani, a former head of the intelligence services, as his successor as army head in October. |
| After handing over power to Gen Kiani in Wednesday's ceremony, Gen Musharraf is then due to take an oath as civilian head of state on Thursday. | After handing over power to Gen Kiani in Wednesday's ceremony, Gen Musharraf is then due to take an oath as civilian head of state on Thursday. |
| Gen Musharraf was honoured by soldiers on Tuesday | Gen Musharraf was honoured by soldiers on Tuesday |
| Decorated with medals and a green sash, and accompanied by a military band played martial tunes, he bid farewell to troops at the army headquarters on Tuesday. | Decorated with medals and a green sash, and accompanied by a military band played martial tunes, he bid farewell to troops at the army headquarters on Tuesday. |
| Our correspondent says Gen Musharraf has promised to resign as army chief before but this time, according to his spokesman, he is ready to honour his promise to bring military rule to an end. | Our correspondent says Gen Musharraf has promised to resign as army chief before but this time, according to his spokesman, he is ready to honour his promise to bring military rule to an end. |
| The most serious pressure on the president to give up his uniform has come from the United States, his main international backer. | The most serious pressure on the president to give up his uniform has come from the United States, his main international backer. |
| Washington has grown concerned in recent months at the army's inability to rein in pro-Taleban militants and by Gen Musharraf's growing unpopularity. | Washington has grown concerned in recent months at the army's inability to rein in pro-Taleban militants and by Gen Musharraf's growing unpopularity. |
| As a civilian leader, President Musharraf would still have considerable powers, including the power to sack a civilian government. | As a civilian leader, President Musharraf would still have considerable powers, including the power to sack a civilian government. |
| He imposed emergency rule on 3 November in order, he said, to rein in the judiciary and deal with a growing threat from Islamist militants. | He imposed emergency rule on 3 November in order, he said, to rein in the judiciary and deal with a growing threat from Islamist militants. |
| General elections are to be held on 8 January, but President Musharraf has yet to say when the emergency will be lifted. | General elections are to be held on 8 January, but President Musharraf has yet to say when the emergency will be lifted. |