Bhutto sets up showdown with Musharraf

Islamabad: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto yesterday urged Pakistanis to hold mass protests against a state of emergency declared by President Pervez Musharraf, setting up a showdown with the military ruler.

Bhutto vowed to hold a rally in Rawalpindi tomorrow despite police threats of a crackdown, and called for a "long march" on November 13 from Lahore to the capital if Musharraf does not back down.

Police baton-charged hundreds of Bhutto's supporters outside the parliament in Islamabad minutes after she spoke.

At least three were arrested. "I appeal to the people of Pakistan to come forward. We are under attack," Bhutto told a news conference after holding talks with other opposition leaders.

Meanwhile, exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the West to abandon Musharraf and said the country was heading deeper into chaos.

Sharif also ruled out teaming up with Bhutto unless she cut off talks with Musharraf. Street protests by lawyers continued, and police sources said more lawyers were arrested across the country.