Declan Walsh in Islamabad and Mark Tran | guardian.co.uk | Wednesday February 20 2008
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf remains defiant. Photographer: Seppo Sirkka/EPA
President Pervez Musharraf today pledged to complete his five-year term in defiance of the opposition, setting the stage for a confrontation with the incoming government.
"We have to move forward in a way that we bring about a stable democratic government to Pakistan," the retired general told the Wall Street Journal, vowing to remain in office until 2012.
Musharraf's authority has been severely weakened by the crushing defeat of his Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party in Monday's general election. With all votes counted the party won just 42 of 268 directly elected seats.
Opposition leaders Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari are due to begin putting together a coalition government in Islamabad later today.
Sharif campaigned on a platform of ousting Musharraf, but Zardari, who leads the Pakistan People's party (PPP) has been more coy, leaving the door open to possible cooperation.
Zardari said he would like a small regional rival with ties to Musharraf to join a coalition government. The PPP emerged with the largest number of seats in the national assembly, but lacks a…
Full story @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/20/pakistan1/print
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