Anti-Musharraf protesters held in Pakistan

Islamabad: Riot police arrested dozens of protesters who were chanting slogans against President Gen. Musharraf on Monday as Pakistan's Supreme Court resumed on hearings on the legality of his re-election bid.

Opposition parties claimed hundreds of their members have been arrested after police began taking their leaders into preventive custody late Saturday for allegedly planning to
foment unrest. Officials imposed a ban on gatherings of more than five people in the capital.

The decision by the court, which is considering a slew of legal actions, is expected within days, with the vote by federal and provincial legislators scheduled for Oct. 6. Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum has expressed confidence that Musharraf will prevail, saying the government has a strong case.

Roads leading to the court were blocked with barbed wire. TV footage showed some would-be protesters sprinting away as riot police approached, but dozens began regrouping later, punching their fists in the air as they chanted slogans against the president.

Police arrested about 30 who congregated a few hundred metres from the court shouting anti-Musharraf slogans.

"The US government hired a dog in uniform," protesters shouted, referring to Musharraf's alliance with Washington.

Detainees were bundled into police vehicles. Others were chased off by police down the road, away from the court.

Some parties have asked the nine-judge Supreme Court panel to declare Musharraf ineligible to run as long as he retains his powerful dual role as army chief _ a post that
he has offered to resign if he is voted in.

The government threw a chill into the opposition movement with the crackdown. In addition to the leaders arrested in police sweeps Saturday night in Islamabad, others who were targeted went into hiding, calling the detentions a sign of desperation by the president.

"The government has ordered the arrests of opposition leaders because they were threatening (to create) a law and order problem in the capital," Deputy Information Minister Sen. Tariq Azim told AP on Sunday, confirming the detention of "five or six" senior figures in the opposition coalition, the All Parties Democratic Movement.

"Nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," Azim said.

Opposition parties alleged scores of their activists were arrested Sunday night.