Musharraf may seek re-election

PAKISTAN: Pakistan's military leader hinted that he may seek re-election for a second five-year term as president from the current parliament - which is due to dissolve by late next year.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's remarks to a local TV network were the strongest sign yet he would try to stay on as head of state, despite opposition demands he step down. He didn't say whether he would give up his other post as army chief, the source of most of his power.

In excerpts of an interview aired Thursday by privately run AVT Khyber Television, Musharraf said a president must seek re-election one or at most, two months, before the expiry of his term.

"You read the constitution, it is clear in it ... there is an article written in it that (says) when the tenure of the president ends, like mine will end on Nov. 15, 2007, at least one month before and a maximum of two months before, (an) election should be held for me again, which means it should be held between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. There is no ambiguity in the constitution," Musharraf said.

A spokesman for Musharraf denied that the general - whose interview was due to be aired in full on Friday - had said that he will seek re-election from the current parliament. Islamabad, Friday, AP