Pakistan army chief dismisses coup rumours

Pakistan's army chief has dismissed reports that the military is planning to overthrow the civilian government. Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's comments come a day after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani spoke of a conspiracy, in a clear reference to the army.

Tensions are high in the wake of a leaked memo that allegedly asked for US help to prevent a military coup. President Asif Ali Zardari, who is now back after medical treatment in Dubai, denies any role in the memo.

Gen Kayani "strongly dispelled the speculation of any military takeover", a military statement issued on Friday said. The rumours were "misleading and being used as a bogey to divert the focus from the real issues".

The general, who was addressing troops near the Afghan border, "reiterated that (the) Pakistan Army has and will continue to support the democratic process in the country", the statement went on. The country's top judge also moved on Friday to play down worries over a possible coup.

"There is no question of a takeover. Gone are the days when people used to get validation for unconstitutional steps from the courts," said Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikar Chaudhry.

Tensions are high between the civilian government, which has ruled since elections in February 2008, and Pakistan's powerful military and intelligence services, after US forces killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in May. The army was not told about the raid in advance. After speaking of conspiracies to overthrow the elected government, Gilani said: "There can't be a state within the state. They have to be answerable to this parliament."

The latest developments come amid a scandal dubbed "memogate" that has forced the resignation of the Pakistani ambassador to the US and piled pressure on President Zardari and the civilian authorities.

Zardari had no intention of leaving the country because of the memo scandal, officials from the governing party told Reuters news agency on Friday.

The president recently returned from Dubai where he had treatment for a heart condition. "He is performing his usual work. He is here in Pakistan and he has come to stay," spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Reuters news agency. Pakistan's Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Chaudhry, has opened a hearing into the memo scandal and demanded a reply from Zardari.

Some analysts have speculated that the "memogate" affair is a conspiracy by the army to embarrass the government. The military is the strongest institution in Pakistan and has staged three coups.

America and Iraq A troubled farewell

Several bombs exploded in Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing dozens of people in the Iraqi capital's worst attack in a year and stoking fears that without American soldiers, an unravelling political situation could herald a return for Iraq to the bad old days of sectarian bloodshed.

The troops' final departure on December 18th was a quiet affair marked by flag-folding and the rumble of convoys heading towards Kuwait. But though many have lamented the Americans' failure to oversee the creation of a functioning government or to bring security to Iraq, their presence may have been a stabilising factor and their departure has left people fearful for Iraq's future. As army trucks kicked up their last clouds of Iraqi dust, a political crisis descended on Baghdad that could fracture the fragile power-sharing government and re-open sectarian grievances.

Iraqia, the parliamentary bloc which includes many Sunni politicians and won the support of most of the Sunni population in the elections held in 2010, has suspended its participation the ruling coalition. One Iraqia MP said that in doing so, his party hoped to ring alarm bells that the country was going in the wrong direction.

After the elections Iraqia, which won a plurality of seats, agreed-reluctantly-to participate in a government led by Nuri al-Maliki, who commands the support of many Shia parties and voters. They struck a bargain, they say, in which a member of Iraqia would be defence minister, and the bloc's leader, Ayad Allawi, would play a central role in government. None of this has happened. No defence or interior minister has been confirmed, and power is increasingly concentrated in Mr Maliki's hands. Iraqia alleges that Shia militias responsible for much of the sectarian violence that tore the country apart five years ago have been incorporated into the security forces, and target Sunnis.

The cracks in the government are increasingly apparent. Saleh al-Mutlak, a Sunni member of Iraqia who is deputy prime minister, called Mr Maliki a dictator during an interview with CNN, an American television network, last week. His boss swiftly called for a vote of no confidence in him though this has yet to take place. Tanks are reportedly parked outside Mr Mutlak's house.

Vaclav Havel funeral World leaders pay respects

The current and former US secretaries of state were joined by leaders from France, Britain and many ex-communist countries in the cathedral of St Vitus.

Outside, after church bells rang out across the capital, thousands thronged to follow the service.

Havel, who helped lead the 1989 overthrow of communism, died aged 75.

He passed away on Sunday after a long respiratory illness, health issues that dated back to his time in prison.