Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s president, has said he will resign from his position, following months of pressure form the country’s civilian government.

The move, which came in a televised address to the nation on Monday, is intended to help him avoid impeachment charges drawn up by the ruling coalition.

“After consultations with my legal advisers and close political friends, for the country and the nation today, I am deciding to resign from my office,” Musharraf said.

“I am leaving with the satisfaction that whatever I did for this country and the population, I did with honesty and commitment.

“But I am also a human being,” he added. “I might have made some mistakes, but I have hope that this nation and the population will tolerate those mistakes with the belief that my intentions were always clear and to the benefit of this country.”

Rumours persisted that Musharraf was going to resign to avoid charges of impeachment that were to be levelled against him in parliament later this week.

Pakistani officials say that Musharraf’s aides have held talks with the ruling
coalition, brokered by Saudi Arabia, the US and the UK, to allow him to quit in return for an indemnity for his previous actions.

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