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| Musharraf begins European visit | Musharraf begins European visit |
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| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has begun an eight-day visit to Europe, with democracy and tackling terror on the agenda as he meets EU leaders. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has begun an eight-day visit to Europe, with democracy and tackling terror on the agenda as he meets EU leaders. |
| Beginning in Brussels, the visit will take him on to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. | Beginning in Brussels, the visit will take him on to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. |
| The tour is President Musharraf's first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. | The tour is President Musharraf's first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. |
| He aims to clear "misperceptions" of recent events in Pakistan, he said. | He aims to clear "misperceptions" of recent events in Pakistan, he said. |
| On Monday Mr Musharraf is due to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and to address the influential foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament | On Monday Mr Musharraf is due to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and to address the influential foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament |
| Charm offensive | Charm offensive |
| BBC Brussels Correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pakistani leader is bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postponed general election scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. | BBC Brussels Correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pakistani leader is bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postponed general election scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. |
| The trip is seen by EU officials as a charm offensive designed to show Mr Musharraf is still in control, after his credibility has been undermined by months of instability and violence in Pakistan, our correspondent reports. | The trip is seen by EU officials as a charm offensive designed to show Mr Musharraf is still in control, after his credibility has been undermined by months of instability and violence in Pakistan, our correspondent reports. |
| MEP Michael Gahler, who will head a 100-strong team of European election observers, told the BBC that Pakistan still had much to do to ensure that next month's poll would be free, fair and transparent. | MEP Michael Gahler, who will head a 100-strong team of European election observers, told the BBC that Pakistan still had much to do to ensure that next month's poll would be free, fair and transparent. |
| EU officials are also expected to question Mr Musharraf's commitment to democratic reforms and his record on fighting extremists both at home and in neighbouring Afghanistan. | EU officials are also expected to question Mr Musharraf's commitment to democratic reforms and his record on fighting extremists both at home and in neighbouring Afghanistan. |
| The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with an annual trade worth $9 billion. | The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with an annual trade worth $9 billion. |
| Along with Nato - which leads a force of about 40,000 troops in Afghanistan - it has a strategic interest in the stability of nuclear armed Pakistan, our correspondent says. | Along with Nato - which leads a force of about 40,000 troops in Afghanistan - it has a strategic interest in the stability of nuclear armed Pakistan, our correspondent says. |
| Press reports in Spain have linked the arrest of 14 mainly Pakistani terrorist suspects in Barcelona on Saturday with the possibility of attacks in several European countries to coincide with Mr Musharraf's trip. | Press reports in Spain have linked the arrest of 14 mainly Pakistani terrorist suspects in Barcelona on Saturday with the possibility of attacks in several European countries to coincide with Mr Musharraf's trip. |
| But Belgian authorities said that the security measures in place would be the same as for a visit by any other head of state. | But Belgian authorities said that the security measures in place would be the same as for a visit by any other head of state. |
| During his trip, President Musharraf is also due to meet his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | During his trip, President Musharraf is also due to meet his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| He will also hold talks in Davos with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki. |