PAKISTAN:Bowing to international and domestic pressure, President Pervez Musharraf resigned as Pakistan's army chief yesterday, trading his uniform for hopes of another five years in power as a civilian, writes Declan Walshin Islamabad
In a short ceremony at military headquarters in Rawalpindi, a grave Mr Musharraf handed a gold-tipped baton to his successor, Gen Ashfaq Kiyani, symbolising control of the nuclear-armed force that has dominated the country for the past 60 years.
It was an emotional moment for the general, who once called his khaki uniform "my second skin". "The army is my life. I love the army," he said, bringing his 43-year military career to a close.
"I may be leaving with my mind, but my heart will always be with the army." Mr Musharraf is due to be sworn in as president for a fresh five-year term today.
On the converted hockey ground at Rawalpindi, he appeared stiff and puffy-faced, betraying the strain of weathering intense criticism since he imposed emergency rule three weeks ago. Gen Kiyani, a younger man who until last month headed the ISI intelligence agency, stood at his side.
The key moment was laden with accidental symbolism. When it came to transferring the ceremonial baton, Mr Musharraf struggled briefly to remove it from its box. Gen Kiyani, standing opposite him, offered swift assistance. Then the baton changed hands, ushering in a new phase of Pakistan's unfolding political crisis.
Western allies expressed relief, but pressed for further reforms. US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said: "The most stabilising thing will be for Pakistan to have free and fair elections." British prime minister Gordon Brown urged Gen Musharraf to return to "the normal democratic process".
Speculation grew last night that Mr Musharraf would use an address to the nation later today to announce an end to emergency rule.
Yesterday he was watched by a stand filled with generals, their chests brimming with medals, seated beside western military representatives and the interim prime minister, Mohammadmian Soomro.
Army commandos prowled the perimeter, a reminder of the threat from Islamist militants accused of two suicide bombings a few miles away last Saturday.
Mr Musharraf has imposed harsh measures to ensure that today's presidential swearing-in goes smoothly. Since November 3rd, the constitution has been suspended, the supreme court removed and critical media outlets have been hobbled.
The transition remains fraught with risk and Mr Musharraf's future as a civilian politician remains unclear. He hopes to rule at the apex of a troika including the army chief and the prime minister, who will be determined after a general election due on January 9th.
The frontrunners hold little appeal for Mr Musharraf. Relations with the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto have frosted over since her return from exile last month. Mr Musharraf has twice placed her under house arrest, accusing her of "confrontational politics". Two weeks ago she called him "contaminated" and demanded his resignation.
In Karachi, Ms Bhutto cautiously welcomed Mr Musharraf's resignation, saying it would allow the army to "better perform their duties". She declined to say whether her party would accept his new status as civilian president.