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Musharraf Quits as Army Chief

'Relationship will continue,' he vows, 'though I will not be in uniform'

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 28, 2007 2:01 AM CST

(Newser) – Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf stepped down today as chief of his nation's military in a bid to ease the tensions gripping the country. He will be installed as civilian president for a five-year term tomorrow. His resignation officially marks the end of military rule, though the country remains in a state of emergency imposed by him. "I love this army, and this relationship will continue," said Musharraf, "though I will not be in uniform."

The president, under pressure from the West to step down as military chief, will be replaced by Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, who has cooperated with the US in the fight against terrorism, and prefers to keep the military out of politics. Opposition leaders and Western allies want emergency rule lifted before elections scheduled for January.

Pakistan%u2019s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf walks back after reviewing a guard of honor at Pakistan's Air Force headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Musharraf visited troops to bid them farewell, a day before standing down as military chief to become a civilian head of state in a...
Pakistan%u2019s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf walks back after reviewing a guard of honor at Pakistan's Air Force headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Musharraf visited troops...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in full uniform salutes during a farewell visit at the armed forces headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan yesterday. Musharraf visited troops to bid them farewell a day before standing down as military chief to become a civilian head of state in a move aimed at easing...
Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in full uniform salutes during a farewell visit at the armed forces headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan yesterday. Musharraf visited troops to bid them farewell...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf salutes during a guard of honor ceremony at the armed forces headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, as he bids farewell to troops a day before standing down as military chief to become a civilian head of state.(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf salutes during a guard of honor ceremony at the armed forces headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, as he bids farewell to troops a day before standing down as...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan%u2019s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, left, shakes hands with senior navy officers upon his arrival at the naval headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Musharraf visited troops to bid them farewell, a day before standing down as military chief to become a civilian head of state in...
Pakistan%u2019s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, left, shakes hands with senior navy officers upon his arrival at the naval headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Musharraf visited...   (Associated Press)
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