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Pervez Musharraf hails 'new era of real democracy'

Embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf hailed the start of a "new era of real democracy" in Pakistan and vowed yesterday to support an incoming government led by foes bent on diminishing his powers.

"The journey toward democracy and development we started eight years ago is now reaching its destination," said the former army strongman, who seized power in a 1999 coup. "A new era of real democracy has begun."

The US-backed leader was speaking at a military parade celebrating Pakistan's national day. Flatbed trucks rolled past his viewing stand displaying pieces of Pakistan's nuclear-armed arsenal: camouflage-painted Shaheen missiles about 12m long.

Military helicopters swooped past Musharraf flying huge Pakistani flags and spewing decorative, multicolored smoke while fighter jets flew overhead in heart formation.

Musharraf quit the military in November but retains sweeping presidential powers to fire parliament and the prime minister. The parties who defeated his allies in the recent elections are hoping to strip away some of his powers, as well as reverse his decision to purge the courts and review his US-backed terrorism policies.

"I hope the new government can maintain peace and the fast pace of socio-economic development in Pakistan," Musharraf said. "And I hope it will also continue our struggle against the curse of terrorism and extremism with the same force."

On Saturday, the party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto named former parliament speaker Yousaf Raza Gilani as its candidate for the country's next prime minister, after routing Musharraf's allies to win the most seats in last month's polls.

Asked yesterday whether he would work with Musharraf or try to dislodge him, Gilani said, "I will follow the Constitution."

"The crisis our country is passing through is grave," Gilani told reporters after filing his nomination papers. "All political forces have to work together."

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party is forming a majority coalition with the party of the prime minister ousted in Musharraf's coup, Nawaz Sharif, which came in second in the elections. Neither group took enough votes to govern alone.

The new administration faces massive challenges, including a wave of Islamic militancy, high inflation and electricity shortages. And a confrontation still looms between Musharraf and Sharif, who has been one of the most vocal in calling for the unpopular president's resignation.
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