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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Musharraf stepping down as army chief a 'complex' issue: Powell NEW YORK, Sept 25 (AFP) US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that the question of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf stepping down as military chief was "complex" although Washington wanted the country to move towards full democracy. Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999, is under pressure to keep his promise he made last December to leave the army as part of a deal with opposition lawmakers that would allow him to remain president through 2007. But the general indicated recently that he might renege on his pledge and remain as army chief because his leadership was still required to deal with several key outstanding issues, including fighting terrorism. "There are critics that say he should be doing more or taking other steps right now, today, with respect to his own status," Powell said. "We are in the closest touch with President Musharraf, we talk to him on a regular basis. He knows we believe it is in the interest of the Pakistani people to continue to move down a path toward full democracy," Powell told reporters at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel. |
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