Musharraf says elections before January 9

Islamabad: Pakistan's National Assembly will be dissolved on Thursday so that a general election can take place before January 9, President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday.

Musharraf said he would quit the army and be sworn in as a civilian president once the Supreme Court struck down challenges against his re-election on October 6.

"I hope that happens as soon as possible," Musharraf said in a news conference from his army camp office in Rawalpindi.

Musharraf said caretaker governments will be established as soon as the National Assembly is dissolved on November 15 and the provincial assemblies on November 20.

"This is history, ladies and gentlemen, because this is the first time all the assemblies will have completed their terms," Musharraf said.

Musharraf did not say when he intended to end emergency rule, which he imposed last Saturday to combat terrorism and militancy.