ISLAMABAD - PAKISTANI President Pervez Musharraf's spokesman hit out on Friday at 'baseless' reports in western newspapers that the embattled leader will quit within days to avoid impeachment.

Several newspapers quoted aides, politicians and diplomats as saying that Mr Musharraf was about to step down following the coalition government's announcement last week that it would try to unseat him.

'I don't know where they get such baseless information', retired Major General Rashid Qureshi, Mr Musharraf's chief spokesman, said.

'It becomes very unimportant for me to comment on these reports. I have been hearing all this for the past many months'.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, both based in the United States, and the London-based Financial Times all said Mr Musharraf would resign nearly nine years after he grabbed power in a military coup.

Mr Musharraf issued a plea on Thursday, Pakistan's Independence Day, for reconciliation but it was snubbed by the coalition, led by the parties of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto and ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Talks underway to avoid Musharraf impeachment: ally
A key ally of President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that talks were underway to avoid his impeachment and refused to rule out the possibility that the US-backed leader could quit.

Mr Tariq Azim, deputy information minister in the previous pro-Musharraf government, said one option was for Musharraf to become a 'figurehead' president without the power to dissolve parliament.

'Talks are underway and many people are interested that the issue is settled amicably without going into the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf,' Mr Azim said

The ruling coalition announced plans to impeach Mr Musharraf last week.

'This impeachment process, which can last months, will be very damaging especially for the country's economy. The purpose of these talks is to settle the issue and there are many options under consideration,' Mr Azim said.

Asked if the talks could lead to Mr Musharraf's resignation as reported in several Western newspapers, Mr Azim said only: 'My belief is that the president does not intend to leave the country. There is no question of him leaving Pakistan.'

'Another option which I believe is under consideration is to reduce the status of the president to a figurehead, where he is not empowered to dissolve the parliament and appoint armed forces chiefs and provincial governors,' he said.

A two-thirds majority is required in the upper and lower houses of parliament to impeach him. The coalition itself is short of that number but has won pledges of support from independents and at least one former Musharraf ally.

But presidential sources have repeatedly said in recent days that Mr Musharraf 'will not play the numbers game' - a reference to fighting out a potentially humiliating impeachment move in parliament.

Pakistan's powerful army, the helm of which Mr Musharraf relinquished in November and the only institution which could back a move by him to dissolve parliament or declare an emergency, has kept silent on the issue. -- AFP