Bhutto ‘ends power-sharing talks’, BBC

Benazir Bhutto arrives in Lahore

Benazir Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile last month

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto says she has ended negotiations with President Pervez Musharraf on a power-sharing agreement. “We are saying no to any more talks. It is a change from my past policy,” she told journalists in Lahore.

The United States has been pushing for a power-sharing agreement to provide more support for Gen Musharraf in his fight against Islamist extremism.

But Ms Bhutto said the state of emergency made talks impossible.

Ms Bhutto also said she would go ahead with a rally on Tuesday from Lahore to the capital, Islamabad.

Extraordinary session

Her comments come as Commonwealth foreign ministers are due to meet in London to debate a possible suspension of Pakistan’s membership of the organisation.

The extraordinary session was called after President Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on 3 November.

On Sunday Gen Musharraf promised to hold elections in January but refused to say when he would lift emergency rule.

The Commonwealth meeting is expected to add to the international pressure on Gen Musharraf.

When Gen Musharraf seized power in 1999, Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth for five years.

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