Musharraf-Bhutto pact almost done: minister

Islamabad: A power-sharing pact between Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has almost been finalised, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday.

Bhutto has demanded a commitment from Musharraf to quit as army chief and become a civilian president as a condition for any deal, but Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the issue had been settled.

"There is no more uniform issue. It has been settled and the president will make an announcement," Ahmed told a news conference.

Musharraf, who has seen his popularity plummet in recent months, wants to get re-elected president for another five years between mid-September and mid-October, before his term as army chief expires at the end of the year.

But US ally Musharraf faces opposition, particularly over his plan to secure another term while remaining army chief, raising concern about stability in the nuclear-armed country seen as vital to efforts to tackle terrorism and pacify Afghanistan.

A pact with two-time prime minister Bhutto, whose Pakistan People's Party is the country's single largest party, would see Musharraf through, but he will have to pay Bhutto's price.

Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday quoted Bhutto as saying the "uniform issue is resolved".

Ahmed said the deal with Bhutto's party was 80 per cent finalised.

"There are just two or three points that need to be settled," Ahmed said, adding that the outcome of talks between the president's aides and Bhutto in London this week were very important.

Under Musharraf's plan, a general election will be held at the end of the year or early next year.

As well as demanding that Musharraf resign from the army, Bhutto, wants immunity from prosecution for corruption charges hanging over her and the removal of ban on a prime minister serving a third term.

Bhutto has set an Aug. 31 deadline for a deal.