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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bhutto party meeting to pick PM | Bhutto party meeting to pick PM |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The party of Pakistan's late former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, is meeting to pick the next prime minister after its victory in Monday's polls. | |
| The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) earlier agreed to co-operate in government with the opposition PML-N, led by another former PM, Nawaz Sharif. | The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) earlier agreed to co-operate in government with the opposition PML-N, led by another former PM, Nawaz Sharif. |
| Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leader and Ms Bhutto's widower, is not eligible to run for PM but retains great influence. | Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leader and Ms Bhutto's widower, is not eligible to run for PM but retains great influence. |
| The coalition government is seen as a threat to President Pervez Musharraf. | The coalition government is seen as a threat to President Pervez Musharraf. |
| The main party loyal to the president fared poorly in the parliamentary elections. | The main party loyal to the president fared poorly in the parliamentary elections. |
| As president, Mr Musharraf did not personally contest the polls and has brushed aside calls for him to resign. | As president, Mr Musharraf did not personally contest the polls and has brushed aside calls for him to resign. |
| In a separate development, an explosion in the Swat region of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has killed 13 people and hurt a dozen others, officials say. | In a separate development, an explosion in the Swat region of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has killed 13 people and hurt a dozen others, officials say. |
| The blast targeted a vehicle carrying guests from a wedding party. | The blast targeted a vehicle carrying guests from a wedding party. |
| Swat, a former tourist resort, has recently seen intense clashes between Islamist militants and government forces. | Swat, a former tourist resort, has recently seen intense clashes between Islamist militants and government forces. |
| Details unresolved | Details unresolved |
| Newly-elected MPs of the PPP are meeting Mr Zardari to discuss whom to nominate as prime minister in a future government. | Newly-elected MPs of the PPP are meeting Mr Zardari to discuss whom to nominate as prime minister in a future government. |
| The PPP's 87 seats in the election were the highest polled by a single party, giving it about one third of the seats. In principle, we have agreed to stay together Asif ZardariPakistan People's Party Can opposition unite?Balance of forces | The PPP's 87 seats in the election were the highest polled by a single party, giving it about one third of the seats. In principle, we have agreed to stay together Asif ZardariPakistan People's Party Can opposition unite?Balance of forces |
| The PML-N came second, with 66 seats. | The PML-N came second, with 66 seats. |
| Details of the coalition - agreed between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif on Thursday - have yet to be worked out. | Details of the coalition - agreed between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif on Thursday - have yet to be worked out. |
| Mr Zardari said the two parties would "stay together" but they had lots to work out. | Mr Zardari said the two parties would "stay together" but they had lots to work out. |
| "We have a lot of modalities to cover. We have a lot of ground to cover," he said. "We will be meeting off and on. In principle, we have agreed to stay together." | "We have a lot of modalities to cover. We have a lot of ground to cover," he said. "We will be meeting off and on. In principle, we have agreed to stay together." |
| According to the BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad, a coalition between the PPP and PML-N raises the prospect of a government which will try to force President Musharraf from power. | According to the BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad, a coalition between the PPP and PML-N raises the prospect of a government which will try to force President Musharraf from power. |
| Though the two parties have little in common ideologically, both insist that they want to work together to re-establish full civilian democracy and the power of parliament. | Though the two parties have little in common ideologically, both insist that they want to work together to re-establish full civilian democracy and the power of parliament. |
| The two parties have more than half of the new parliament's seats and if they can form a grouping with a two-thirds majority, they could call for Mr Musharraf to be impeached. | The two parties have more than half of the new parliament's seats and if they can form a grouping with a two-thirds majority, they could call for Mr Musharraf to be impeached. |
| Mr Sharif has been deeply critical of the president and says he wants "to rid Pakistan of dictatorship forever". | Mr Sharif has been deeply critical of the president and says he wants "to rid Pakistan of dictatorship forever". |
| Mr Musharraf has said he will not resign or retire, but instead wishes to work towards stable democratic government in Pakistan. | Mr Musharraf has said he will not resign or retire, but instead wishes to work towards stable democratic government in Pakistan. |
| Mr Musharraf seized power from then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a military coup in 1999 and was re-elected to the presidency in October in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the opposition as unconstitutional. | Mr Musharraf seized power from then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a military coup in 1999 and was re-elected to the presidency in October in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the opposition as unconstitutional. |
| US ally | US ally |
| Mr Musharraf has been a major US ally in the "war on terror" but his popularity has waned at home amid accusations of authoritarianism and incompetence. | Mr Musharraf has been a major US ally in the "war on terror" but his popularity has waned at home amid accusations of authoritarianism and incompetence. |
| Our correspondent says the prospect of a prolonged confrontation between the president and the new government will not please the US, which has urged the two sides to co-operate. | Our correspondent says the prospect of a prolonged confrontation between the president and the new government will not please the US, which has urged the two sides to co-operate. |
| Mr Musharraf's forces have been trying to contain a Taleban-influenced Islamist insurgency along the country's rugged frontier with Afghanistan. | Mr Musharraf's forces have been trying to contain a Taleban-influenced Islamist insurgency along the country's rugged frontier with Afghanistan. |
| Monday's election was preceded by months of violence, including the suicide attack that killed PPP leader, Ms Bhutto, in December. | Monday's election was preceded by months of violence, including the suicide attack that killed PPP leader, Ms Bhutto, in December. |
| The poll was initially scheduled for early January but was delayed after her assassination. | The poll was initially scheduled for early January but was delayed after her assassination. |