Musharraf reinforces control of nuclear weapons

Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf reinforced government control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons on Friday amid uncertainty about the country's political stability.

Musharraf issued a decree formalising the role of the National Command Authority, comprising top civilian and military officials, in overseeing all aspects of the nuclear weapons program.

The move comes less than four weeks before parliamentary elections which, if fair, could produce a government hostile to Musharraf.

Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said while there was consensus among all political parties on the issue of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, authorities wanted to put the National Command Authority on a firm legal footing before the elections.

He said, "There is a transition in process and the country is returning to full democracy, so whatever things were left to be done are being done."