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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan's power deal 'stalled' | Pakistan's power deal 'stalled' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that talks on a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf are "totally stalled". | Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that talks on a power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf are "totally stalled". |
| Speaking in London, she said reports that corruption charges against her had been dropped were "disinformation". | Speaking in London, she said reports that corruption charges against her had been dropped were "disinformation". |
| Ministers said on Tuesday that an amnesty deal was about to be announced. | Ministers said on Tuesday that an amnesty deal was about to be announced. |
| The self-exiled Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan on 18 October. President Musharraf looks certain to be elected for a new term on Saturday. | The self-exiled Ms Bhutto has pledged to return to Pakistan on 18 October. President Musharraf looks certain to be elected for a new term on Saturday. |
| 'Absolutely wrong' | 'Absolutely wrong' |
| Ms Bhutto made her remarks as she arrived for talks with officials of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in London. | |
| I am afraid we are heading for a situation which could lead to street agitation Benazir Bhutto Timeline: Political rivals | |
| "It's absolutely wrong, the news the corruption charges have been dropped," she said. | "It's absolutely wrong, the news the corruption charges have been dropped," she said. |
| "He [Gen Musharraf] is not prepared to give a level playing-field. We want to see Pakistan move from dictatorship towards democracy. | |
| "This is just a typical disinformation campaign by the present regime. | |
| "The longer the military regime continues in this fashion, the more anarchic the situation becomes." | |
| Ms Bhutto, who denies the allegations of corruption, has lived abroad since well before Gen Musharraf seized power in a coup in 1999. | |
| She has been one of his sternest critics, but is now a possible future ally as he looks for parliamentary support for a new term in office. | She has been one of his sternest critics, but is now a possible future ally as he looks for parliamentary support for a new term in office. |
| Suggestions from the government that it was near to meeting one of Ms Bhutto's key demands came after she threatened to join a parliamentary boycott being observed by other opposition parties. | Suggestions from the government that it was near to meeting one of Ms Bhutto's key demands came after she threatened to join a parliamentary boycott being observed by other opposition parties. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad said the government's announcement that it was close to finalising an agreement to drop corruption cases against her was perhaps aimed at preventing that. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad said the government's announcement that it was close to finalising an agreement to drop corruption cases against her was perhaps aimed at preventing that. |
| Turmoil | |
| Pakistan has faced growing political and security instability in recent months. | |
| Gen Musharraf's election plans are illegal, critics say | |
| The PPP is the biggest party in Pakistan. Observers say Gen Musharraf wants a power-sharing agreement with the PPP to give him more popular support. | |
| But Ms Bhutto has been insisting that the president gives up his power to sack the prime minister. | |
| She also wants the repeal of a law banning anyone from being prime minister for more that two terms. She and political rival Nawaz Sharif have both been prime minister twice. | |
| He returned to Pakistan in August but was promptly deported to Saudi Arabia. Ms Bhutto says she will return to lead her party in general elections due by mid-January. | |
| Pakistan's president is elected indirectly by parliament and the four provincial assemblies. Gen Musharraf's supporters say they are confident he has the support to win another term. | |
| The opposition resignations are aimed at undermining the credibility of the ballot. | |
| Judges in the Supreme Court are continuing to hear petitions challenging the president's right to stand for election while still army chief. |