Musharraf to 'quit as army chief'

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf plans to quit as army chief to become a civilian leader, removing a main objection to his proposed re-election in October, a senior ruling party official said yesterday.

"We expect that after his re-election process next month, God willing, General Musharraf would take his oath of office as a civilian president before November 15," said Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, secretary-general of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML).

Musharraf retained the post of army chief after he took power in a military coup in 1999, despite calls from the opposition to quit the dual office.