Pakistan's Musharraf steps down

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is facing impeachment by parliament, says he will resign. The charges against the president include violation of the constitution and gross misconduct. Pakistan's Musharraf steps down Musharraf said he was confident that the charges against him would not stand but that this was not the time for more confrontation in Pakistan. He has been one of the United States' strongest allies in its war against Islamist extremism. His political rivals swept to power last February in national and provincial elections after months of political confrontation and worsening militant violence. "No bravado" Musharraf announced his decision to resign in a live television address to the nation. Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, the embattled president said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers. Musharraf said his appeals for reconciliation with his opponents had fallen on deaf ears. He was not afraid of the impeachment charges he is facing, he said. "Not a single charge can be proved against me." But he said the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty. "This is not the time for individual bravado." He said whatever mistakes he had made in office were unintentional and that "I leave myself in the hands of the people". "False allegations" He began his address by saying that when he took over in a military coup in 1999, Pakistan was going to be declared a failed state and faced great economic challenges. He said that "false allegations were made against me" by people who "tried to turn the truth into lies". He gave a long defense of the country's economic record, detailing the progress he said it had made under his rule. He said the problems Pakistan faced could be solved if people worked together and believed in themselves. Musharraf decided to address the nation as ministers warned over the weekend that impeachment proceedings against him could begin as early as Tuesday of this week. The drive to impeach him has been led by Nawaz Sharif, the head of Pakistan's second biggest political party, the PML-N. It was Sharif who President Musharraf, then head of the army, deposed in a bloodless coup in 1999. He was forced to give up control of the armed forces last year. The president's public standing suffered a huge setback in 2007 when he sacked Pakistan's chief justice and nearly 60 judges to prevent them from overturning his re-election as president.

Pakistan's Musharraf steps down

Musharraf said he was confident that the charges against him would not stand but that this was not the time for more confrontation in Pakistan.

He has been one of the United States' strongest allies in its war against Islamist extremism.

His political rivals swept to power last February in national and provincial elections after months of political confrontation and worsening militant violence.

"No bravado"

Musharraf announced his decision to resign in a live television address to the nation.

Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, the embattled president said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers.

Musharraf said his appeals for reconciliation with his opponents had fallen on deaf ears.

He was not afraid of the impeachment charges he is facing, he said. "Not a single charge can be proved against me."

But he said the impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty. "This is not the time for individual bravado."

He said whatever mistakes he had made in office were unintentional and that "I leave myself in the hands of the people".

"False allegations"

He began his address by saying that when he took over in a military coup in 1999, Pakistan was going to be declared a failed state and faced great economic challenges.

He said that "false allegations were made against me" by people who "tried to turn the truth into lies".

He gave a long defense of the country's economic record, detailing the progress he said it had made under his rule.

He said the problems Pakistan faced could be solved if people worked together and believed in themselves.

Musharraf decided to address the nation as ministers warned over the weekend that impeachment proceedings against him could begin as early as Tuesday of this week.

The drive to impeach him has been led by Nawaz Sharif, the head of Pakistan's second biggest political party, the PML-N. It was Sharif who President Musharraf, then head of the army, deposed in a bloodless coup in 1999.

He was forced to give up control of the armed forces last year.

The president's public standing suffered a huge setback in 2007 when he sacked Pakistan's chief justice and nearly 60 judges to prevent them from overturning his re-election as president.