Nawaz Sharif withdraws from Pakistan's ruling coalition

Islamabad: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has withdrawn from the country's ruling coalition, he announced in a press conference on Monday.

Sharif heads the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, the second largest in the ruling coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party, headed by Asif Ali Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto's widower.

He said his party will now sit in the opposition and will nominate its own candidate for president.

The announcement is sure to shake the country's already weak political situation.

The two parties have disagreed on key issues, particularly the reinstatement of judges removed in November.

Last week, facing mounting pressure and possible impeachment, Pervez Musharraf resigned as president of Pakistan.