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New term for civilian Musharraf New term for civilian Musharraf
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been sworn in for a second term, this time as a civilian ruler.Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been sworn in for a second term, this time as a civilian ruler.
President Musharraf was given the oath of office by Pakistan's newly-installed chief justice at a ceremony in the presidential palace in Islamabad. He described his swearing-in at the presidential palace in Islamabad as "a historic day" and "a milestone in Pakistan's transition to democracy".
On Wednesday he stepped down as commander of the military amid heavy domestic and international pressure. Mr Musharraf called for "political reconciliation" and insisted polls for parliament would go ahead in January.
But there will be more stiff challenges to his leadership in the days and weeks ahead, correspondents predict. On Wednesday Mr Musharraf stepped down as commander of the military amid heavy domestic and international pressure.
So far President Musharraf has managed to withstand the barrage of protest - including from his most important ally, the US - since imposing emergency rule on 3 November. Correspondents say there will be more stiff challenges to his leadership in the weeks ahead, following his imposition of emergency rule on 3 November.
Plain clothes 'Protect and defend'
Pervez Musharraf was elected to a second term in an election among lawmakers on 6 October, the legitimacy of which has been hotly contested. Pervez Musharraf won a second term as president in a legislative election on 6 October, the legitimacy of which has been hotly contested.
Without this army, the entity of Pakistan cannot exist President Musharraf resigns his job as army chief class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7117524.stm"> Musharraf's message to army class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7115117.stm">The big three's options For Thursday's ceremony, the president arrived in a black traditional suit (sherwani) instead of a military uniform.
For Thursday's ceremony, the president arrived in a suit instead of a military uniform. We understand our society, our environment, better than anyone in the West President Musharraf class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7117524.stm"> Musharraf's message to army class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7115117.stm">The big three's options
He read out an oath to "preserve and protect the constitution of Pakistan", ending it with "May Allah, God Almighty, guide me". The ceremony began with the playing of Pakistan's national anthem and a recitation from the Koran.
He read out an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan", ending it with "May Allah, God Almighty, help and guide me".
After the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Musharraf said he would "break convention and take the opportunity to give my views on the present situation in Pakistan".
Mr Musharraf said he welcomed the return of opposition leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan.
"I personally feel this is good for the political reconciliation I have spoken of," he said.
Mr Musharraf also insisted that parliamentary elections would be held on schedule in January "come hell or high water".
"They will not be derailed," he said, adding that the polls would be free and fair and open for monitoring by international observers.
Mr Musharraf said he was in favour of democracy and human rights, "but we will do it our way, in our time. We understand our society, our environment, better than anyone in the West".
'Reliable partner'
The presidential oath was administered by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar.The presidential oath was administered by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar.
He replaced Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was sacked when he and other judges refused to endorse emergency rule.He replaced Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was sacked when he and other judges refused to endorse emergency rule.
On Wednesday Mr Musharraf quit as army chief, handing the title over to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's main garrison town.
Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto welcomed President Musharraf's decision to quit his army post but said her party was "not in a hurry" to accept him as a civilian president.
People in Pakistan give their rections as Musharraf quits as head of the armyIn picturesPeople in Pakistan give their rections as Musharraf quits as head of the armyIn pictures
In his speech, Mr Musharraf accused Mr Chaudhry of conspiring to "derail democracy".
A day earlier, Mr Musharraf had quit as army chief, handing the title over to Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at a ceremony in Rawalpindi, Pakistan's main garrison town.
Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto welcomed that move but said her party was "not in a hurry" to accept Mr Musharraf as a civilian president.
US President George W Bush called the Pakistani leader "an absolute reliable partner".US President George W Bush called the Pakistani leader "an absolute reliable partner".
But he told CNN that the Pakistani leader would have to end emergency rule before parliamentary elections on 8 January "in order to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy". But he told CNN that Mr Musharraf would have to end emergency rule before the elections on 8 January "in order to get Pakistan back on the road to democracy".
However, Mr Musharraf's difficulties will not be over once he becomes a civilian leader, says the BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the civilian investiture does not mean an end to Mr Musharraf's difficulties.
His declaration of a state of emergency alienated much of the secular middle class, while an Islamist insurgency has also gained strength under his rule, she says. The state of emergency has alienated much of the secular middle class, while an Islamist insurgency has also gained strength under his rule, she says.
In the coming weeks he will have to oversee a contested electoral process. If his opponents join forces against him, he could be in real trouble, our correspondent says. If not, he might be able to play them off against each other. Either way, the president will continue to struggle with the political crisis.
If his opponents join forces against him, he could be in real trouble, our correspondent says, or if not, he might be able to play them off against each other.
Either way the president will continue to struggle with the political crisis, she adds.