Embattled Musharraf resigns as Pakistan's president

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned from office Monday before his political opponentscould begin impeachment proceedings against him, saying he had "worked for the country in good faith."

Musharraf made the announcement in a nationally televised address a day afteracommittee of Pakistan's ruling coalition finalized a list of impeachment charges againstthe former army chief. The charges included violating the constitution and misconduct.

During his lengthy address, Musharraf dismissed the charges against him, calling them"baseless" and "a fraud against the nation." He said he was stepping down because he did not want Pakistan's "dignity to suffer."

"After consulting my legal advisers and nearest political supporters in the interest of the nation, I resign from my post today," he said. "I hand over my future to the people's hands, and let them do justice."

Musharraf usedhis speech todefend his political and military record, citinghishandling of Pakistan's economy, as well as education and infrastructure programs he instituted during his nine-year reign as president.

"For 44 years, I have protected this nation without thinking of my life," he said. "I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes."

Choice for successor uncertain

Musharraf,a former general,had beenfacing intense pressure to quit from politicalopponents whodefeated hisallies in February's parliamentaryelections.

Musharraf saidhe wouldsubmit his resignationto the speaker of theNational Assemblylater Monday but it was not immediately clear whether it would become effective the same day. The chairman of Pakistan's Senate, Mohammedmian Soomro, will take over as acting president when Musharraf steps down, Law Minister Farooq Naek said.

But itremains an open question whom parliament will elect to succeed Musharraf, partly because the ruling coalition has vowed to strip the presidency of much of its power.

There is speculation that the leaders of the two main ruling coalition parties Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are interested in the role, although neither has openlyacknowledged as much.

After Musharraf made his announcement, television footage showed groups of people celebrating in the streets in towns across Pakistan.

"It is very pleasing to know that Musharraf is no more," said Mohammed Saeed, a shopkeeper among a crowd of peopledancing to drum beats and hugging each other at an intersection in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Pakistan's stock market and currency both rose strongly on hopes that the country was bound for political stability.

Came to power in 1999 coup

Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda,came to power in a 1999 bloodless coup. He stepped down as army chief last year to run for a third term in office but still maintains close ties to the military.

His reputation suffered last year when he ousted dozens of judgesand imposed emergency rule. He said at the time the measures were necessary to protect Pakistan from extremism and political instability. Upon news of Musharraf's resignation, lawyers began pressuring the ruling parties to restore the ousted judges.

Following Musharraf's address, Information Minister Sherry Rehman called the president's departure "a victory for democratic forces."

"Today, the shadow of dictatorship that has prevailed for long over this country, that chapter has been closed," Rehman said.

Musharraf could still be charged

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss later Monday whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on charges that were being planned for the impeachment process.

Sharif's party insists he should be tried for treason, which carries a maximum punishment of death.

"The crimes of Musharraf against the nation, against the judiciary, against democracy and against rule of law in the country cannot be forgiven by any party or individual," party spokesman Ahsan Iqbal said Monday.

But severalPakistani media agencies reported Musharraf and the coalition were discussing an agreement that wouldenable him to avoid facing charges by stepping down.

If a deal is made, it is unclear whether Musharraf would stay in Pakistan and live at his farm in the outskirts of Islamabad,or go into exile in a country like Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

Earlier this month, coalitionparty leaderZardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who now heads the Pakistan Peoples Party, announced he and his partner Sharif, the former prime minister, had agreed to seek the impeachment proceedings in parliament.

Musharraf accused the coalition of creating an "atmosphere of confrontation and vendetta" against him.

"Unfortunately, all my appeals for reconciliation all my efforts failed in this direction," he said Monday.

The ruling coalition, which holds a majority in Pakistan's parliament since its victory in February's elections, had expressed confidence in recent daysit would be able toget two-thirds of the vote in both housesandhave Musharraf removed.