Pakistan prime minister plays down confrontation

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday rejected a suggestion that his government was set on confronting President Pervez Musharraf.

Gilani is a senior member of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's party, which won the most seats in a February general election.

The head of Bhutto's party, her widower Asif Ali Zardari, on Saturday unveiled proposed constitutional changes that would strip Musharraf of his powers.

Gilani said there was no intention of confrontation.

"As far as the presidency is concerned, we respect the president, we're talking about our manifesto, Benazir Bhutto's manifesto. We're talking about our programme, we're not talking about any confrontation," Gilani said.

Zardari's party has been saying the constitutional amendments would be part of a package of reforms that would include the restoration of judges who Musharraf sacked last year.