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ISLAMABAD - GENERAL Pervez Musharraf is set to quit as Pakistan's army chief and become a civilian President at the weekend, a top government official said yesterday, as the military ruler won fresh backing from the US.
Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said that if the Supreme Court today throws out a final challenge to Gen Musharraf's Oct 6 re-election as expected, the President would give up his uniform within days.
'If the Supreme Court lifts the stay order against his re-election, then President Musharraf is likely to take the oath as a civilian President by Saturday or Sunday,' Mr Qayyum said.
'Once the court decides, the notification (of his victory) can be issued in a day or two and then he should take the oath this weekend.'
Gen Musharraf has promised to quit his army post as soon as the court dismisses all the challenges so his victory can be officially validated.
The top court on Monday dismissed five of six challenges against him, leaving just one - regarded as minor - to be heard today.
On Tuesday, the authorities set general elections for Jan 8 and announced the release of more than 3,400 prisoners detained earlier this month under emergency rule, with a further 2,000 to be released 'soon'.
The prisoner release was welcomed by US President George W. Bush, who said Gen Musharraf, a key ally in the fight against Islamic extremism, 'hasn't crossed the line' where he would lose Washington's support.
'I don't think that he will cross any lines. I think he truly is somebody who believes in democracy,' Mr Bush told ABC television in an interview.
'I thought (it) was a pretty good signal that he released thousands of people from jail,' the US leader said.
'Are we happy with the emergency rule? No, we're not. Do we, do I, understand how important he is in fighting extremists and radicals? I do.
'And do I believe that he's going to end up getting Pakistan back on the road to democracy? I certainly hope so,' Mr Bush said, adding that he had found Gen Musharraf to be 'a man of his word'.
The military leader returned home yesterday from Saudi Arabia where he had held talks with King Abdullah, the official Saudi SPA news agency reported. The talks included the current crisis in Pakistan.
A Pakistani diplomatic source said that Gen Musharraf wants the Saudis to rein in former premier Nawaz Sharif, who has been in exile in the kingdom since he was toppled by Gen Musharraf in a 1999 coup.
Mr Sharif had earlier told the media that he had rejected Gen Musharraf's offer to work together with him.
Pakistan's main opposition leaders meanwhile are still deciding whether to boycott the Jan 8 vote.
Mr Sharif said it was 'not possible' to take part if the election was held under emergency rule, while Ms Benazir Bhutto, who heads the largest opposition group, said she would make her decision by today.
In a further sign that the crackdown was not over yet, riot police on Tuesday charged at journalists, who were protesting in the southern city of Karachi against the media curbs imposed under emergency rule.
Around 140 journalists were arrested, but later released.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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