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Musharraf vows to end emergency Musharraf vows to end emergency
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has announced that he intends to lift a state of emergency on 16 December.Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has announced that he intends to lift a state of emergency on 16 December.
He was addressing the nation after leaving the army and being sworn in for a new term as a civilian head of state.He was addressing the nation after leaving the army and being sworn in for a new term as a civilian head of state.
President Musharraf urged all parties to take part in a January general election. One rival, Nawaz Sharif, swiftly confirmed he would boycott it. He urged all parties to take part in January's elections. One rival, Benazir Bhutto, said she would, but Nawaz Sharif said he would boycott the vote.
On Wednesday, the president stepped down as army chief amid heavy domestic and international pressure. On Wednesday, President Musharraf stepped down as army chief amid heavy domestic and international pressure.
Observers say there will be more stiff challenges to his rule in the weeks ahead.Observers say there will be more stiff challenges to his rule in the weeks ahead.
Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have come back, and a level playing field has been given President Musharraf Mr Musharraf in quotes Musharraf's message to army Pakistan press reviewBenazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have come back, and a level playing field has been given President Musharraf Mr Musharraf in quotes Musharraf's message to army Pakistan press review
It remains to be seen whether the leader of the country's biggest political party, Benazir Bhutto, will join with Mr Sharif in boycotting the vote. Mr Sharif said he and his allies would take no part in the general elections on 8 January, and wanted others to do the same.
Mr Sharif said he and his allies would take no part, and wanted others to do the same. "We will try to convince other political parties so that this boycott is effective," he told reporters in Lahore shortly after the presidential address.
"We will try to convince other political parties so that this boycott is effective," he told reporter in Lahore shortly after the presidential address.
Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto have already filed papers to contest the elections. They can formally withdraw their nominations by 15 December at the latest, the day before Mr Musharraf says he will lift the emergency.Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto have already filed papers to contest the elections. They can formally withdraw their nominations by 15 December at the latest, the day before Mr Musharraf says he will lift the emergency.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says many of the measures imposed under emergency rule have already been eased.The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says many of the measures imposed under emergency rule have already been eased.
'Conspiracy''Conspiracy'
For Thursday's ceremony and national address, Pervez Musharraf wore a black traditional suit (sherwani) instead of a military uniform.For Thursday's ceremony and national address, Pervez Musharraf wore a black traditional suit (sherwani) instead of a military uniform.
HAVE YOUR SAY Musharraf has served Pakistan well and seen us through some tough times Arshad, Islamabad Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Musharraf has served Pakistan well and seen us through some tough times Arshad, Islamabad Send us your comments
He was elected to a second term as president by the country's parliament and provincial assemblies on 6 October. The legitimacy of the vote has been hotly contested.He was elected to a second term as president by the country's parliament and provincial assemblies on 6 October. The legitimacy of the vote has been hotly contested.
President Musharraf told the nation he had declared emergency rule on 3 November because "the very existence of our nation was in danger".President Musharraf told the nation he had declared emergency rule on 3 November because "the very existence of our nation was in danger".
"I was elected with 57% votes and there was a conspiracy to abort that," the president said, in an apparent reference to the Supreme Court which was hearing legal challenges to his re-election."I was elected with 57% votes and there was a conspiracy to abort that," the president said, in an apparent reference to the Supreme Court which was hearing legal challenges to his re-election.
One of President Musharraf's first moves under emergency rule was to sack the judges. A reshaped court later dismissed all the legal challenges he had faced.One of President Musharraf's first moves under emergency rule was to sack the judges. A reshaped court later dismissed all the legal challenges he had faced.
President Musharraf told the nation there had been an "explosion of terrorism", which emergency rule had helped deal with.President Musharraf told the nation there had been an "explosion of terrorism", which emergency rule had helped deal with.
"I think now things have improved, the administration is now on the right track and terrorism has been brought under control," he said."I think now things have improved, the administration is now on the right track and terrorism has been brought under control," he said.
"Now, I'm fully determined that the emergency will be lifted on 16 December."Now, I'm fully determined that the emergency will be lifted on 16 December.
"God willing, the election should be conducted held under the constitution in a very fair way, very transparent way.""God willing, the election should be conducted held under the constitution in a very fair way, very transparent way."
'Reconciliation''Reconciliation'
Earlier in the day President Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, took the oath for a second term as president, this time as a civilian head of state.Earlier in the day President Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, took the oath for a second term as president, this time as a civilian head of state.
People in Pakistan give their rections as Musharraf quits as head of the armyIn picturesPeople in Pakistan give their rections as Musharraf quits as head of the armyIn pictures
Afterwards, he said he welcomed the return of opposition leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.Afterwards, he said he welcomed the return of opposition leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.
"I personally feel this is good for the political reconciliation I have spoken of," he said."I personally feel this is good for the political reconciliation I have spoken of," he said.
Mr Musharraf also insisted that parliamentary elections would be held on schedule in January "come hell or high water".Mr Musharraf also insisted that parliamentary elections would be held on schedule in January "come hell or high water".
He promised the polls would be free and fair and open for monitoring by international observers.He promised the polls would be free and fair and open for monitoring by international observers.
As he was being sworn in, about 200 lawyers opposed to his rule clashed violently with police in Lahore.As he was being sworn in, about 200 lawyers opposed to his rule clashed violently with police in Lahore.
A day earlier, Mr Musharraf had quit as army chief, handing the title over to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's main garrison town.A day earlier, Mr Musharraf had quit as army chief, handing the title over to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's main garrison town.
Ms Bhutto welcomed that move but said her party was "not in a hurry" to accept Mr Musharraf as a civilian president.Ms Bhutto welcomed that move but said her party was "not in a hurry" to accept Mr Musharraf as a civilian president.
US President George W Bush called the Pakistani leader "an absolute reliable partner" but repeated US demands that the emergency end before elections.US President George W Bush called the Pakistani leader "an absolute reliable partner" but repeated US demands that the emergency end before elections.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the civilian investiture does not mean an end to Mr Musharraf's difficulties.The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the civilian investiture does not mean an end to Mr Musharraf's difficulties.
The state of emergency has alienated much of the secular middle class, while an Islamist insurgency has also gained strength under his rule, she says.The state of emergency has alienated much of the secular middle class, while an Islamist insurgency has also gained strength under his rule, she says.
If his opponents join forces against him, he could be in real trouble, our correspondent says. If not, he might be able to play them off against each other. Either way, the president will continue to struggle with the political crisis.If his opponents join forces against him, he could be in real trouble, our correspondent says. If not, he might be able to play them off against each other. Either way, the president will continue to struggle with the political crisis.