Pakistan rally for sacked judge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6715363.stm

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Thousands of people in Pakistan have rallied in support of the suspended chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry was cheered by crowds of people as he travelled to a meeting of lawyers in Abbottabad, 50km (30 miles) north of the capital, Islamabad.

President Pervez Musharraf suspended him in March for alleged misconduct, sparking a growing political crisis.

Mr Chaudhry's supporters accuse the president of trying to suppress the freedom of Pakistan's judiciary.

People lined the roads between Islamabad and Abbottabad, chanting "Go Musharraf Go".

"We are fighting for the independence of the judiciary and we have the support of the poeple of Pakistan," said Aitzaz Ahsan, the lawyer leading the legal team defending Mr Chaudhry against the misconduct charges.

There has been a series of protests over Mr Chaudhry's suspension. Correspondents say it is the most serious challenge to General Musharraf's authority since he took power in a coup seven years ago.

On Friday, Pakistan's military commanders issued a statement of support for Mr Musharraf, saying there was a "malicious campaign" against institutions of the state by a small minority of vested interests.