Musharraf foes set to hold talks

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition are to meet to discuss who will succeed their long-time opponent, Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf stepped down on Monday after nine years in power to avoid a move by the government to impeach him. Musharraf foes set to hold talks The coalition, led by the parties of the late Benazir Bhutto and ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, held a first, inconclusive round of talks on Monday. Musharraf was replaced automatically by caretaker President Muhammad Sumroo. Sumroo, speaker of the Senate and a political ally of Musharraf, will lead the country until a new election is held by parliament. It is unclear whether Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, will face prosecution now that he is out of power. Mutual distrust On Monday, Sharif, who leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), met Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of Benazir Bhutto, and other coalition figures. Sources say their talks focused on the nomination of the next president and the restoration of judges deposed by Musharraf. The PPP and PML-N distrust each other and have already said different things about Musharraf's future, the BBC reports from Islamabad. Zardari's party said it believed he might have immunity from prosecution. But Sharif's party argues he should stand trial for, among other things, abrogating the constitution. The parties are also likely to differ on whether to reinstate the judges and are thought to have differences of emphasis on how to tackle a violent Islamist insurgency on the Afghan border, our correspondent says. The BBC in Islamabad says there is relief in Pakistan that Musharraf is gone but mounting impatience with the political parties that won February's elections. "Going, Going, Gone!" Pakistan's newspapers on Tuesday celebrated the exit of former president. The headline of The Daily Times was "Going, Going, Gone!", next to a photo of Musharraf, while The News led with "Mush Quits With His Tail Between His Legs". The country's media also speculated about what he might do next, reporting that he wants to stay in Pakistan, but may soon travel abroad, with Saudi Arabia, the U.S., the UK and Turkey mentioned as possible destinations. Musharraf left his official residence in Islamabad for the last time after announcing his resignation in a televised address. He inspected a last military guard of honour before leaving the palace in a black limousine. After nine years in power, Pervez Musharraf had finally run out of options, the BBC reports from Islamabad. Well known in the West for his support for the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 attacks, he had grown increasingly unpopular at home. With the government on the verge of impeaching him, the former soldier's instinct was to fight on, our correspondent says, but in his lengthy address he said he was stepping down for the good of the nation. It is a landmark moment in Pakistan, our correspondent adds: the former military ruler forced from office by civilian politicians and the army standing by and allowing it to happen. Bhutto's son and heir, Bilawal, said he hoped the country could move forward after Musharraf's departure. "I see that the biggest hurdle in the way of democracy has been removed," he said. Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi in December last year.

Musharraf foes set to hold talks

The coalition, led by the parties of the late Benazir Bhutto and ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, held a first, inconclusive round of talks on Monday.

Musharraf was replaced automatically by caretaker President Muhammad Sumroo.

Sumroo, speaker of the Senate and a political ally of Musharraf, will lead the country until a new election is held by parliament.

It is unclear whether Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, will face prosecution now that he is out of power.

Mutual distrust

On Monday, Sharif, who leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), met Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of Benazir Bhutto, and other coalition figures.

Sources say their talks focused on the nomination of the next president and the restoration of judges deposed by Musharraf.

The PPP and PML-N distrust each other and have already said different things about Musharraf's future, the BBC reports from Islamabad.

Zardari's party said it believed he might have immunity from prosecution.

But Sharif's party argues he should stand trial for, among other things, abrogating the constitution.

The parties are also likely to differ on whether to reinstate the judges and are thought to have differences of emphasis on how to tackle a violent Islamist insurgency on the Afghan border, our correspondent says.

The BBC in Islamabad says there is relief in Pakistan that Musharraf is gone but mounting impatience with the political parties that won February's elections.

"Going, Going, Gone!"

Pakistan's newspapers on Tuesday celebrated the exit of former president.

The headline of The Daily Times was "Going, Going, Gone!", next to a photo of Musharraf, while The News led with "Mush Quits With His Tail Between His Legs".

The country's media also speculated about what he might do next, reporting that he wants to stay in Pakistan, but may soon travel abroad, with Saudi Arabia, the U.S., the UK and Turkey mentioned as possible destinations.

Musharraf left his official residence in Islamabad for the last time after announcing his resignation in a televised address.

He inspected a last military guard of honour before leaving the palace in a black limousine.

After nine years in power, Pervez Musharraf had finally run out of options, the BBC reports from Islamabad.

Well known in the West for his support for the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 attacks, he had grown increasingly unpopular at home.

With the government on the verge of impeaching him, the former soldier's instinct was to fight on, our correspondent says, but in his lengthy address he said he was stepping down for the good of the nation.

It is a landmark moment in Pakistan, our correspondent adds: the former military ruler forced from office by civilian politicians and the army standing by and allowing it to happen.

Bhutto's son and heir, Bilawal, said he hoped the country could move forward after Musharraf's departure.

"I see that the biggest hurdle in the way of democracy has been removed," he said.

Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi in December last year.