World

Bhutto vows "long march" unless Musharraf backs down

by Rob Walker | November 7, 2007 at 06:37 am

397 views | 0 Recommendations | 1 comment

Rather than cooling down, things seem to be heating up in Pakistan. Several European countries have suspended aid to the country and others are condeming the suspending of the consitution.

Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto threatened on Wednesday to lead a mass protest march to the capital unless President Pervez Musharraf quits as army chief, holds elections and restores the constitution.

Bhutto, leader of the largest opposition party and the politician most capable of mobilizing street power, gave Musharraf until Friday to comply.

Government officials have said national elections due in January will be held on time and a member of Musharraf's inner circle said emergency rule was likely to be lifted within 2 or 3 weeks.

But Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup and imposed emergency rule last Saturday citing a hostile judiciary and rising militancy, has not yet personally confirmed either.

"We can't work for dictatorship. We can work for democracy," Bhutto told a news conference in Islamabad after meeting members of her Pakistan People's Party and smaller opposition parties.