Pakistan denies coup rumours while Musharraf away

[ECH1969]

Pakistan on Sunday denied rumours of a coup attempt against President Pervez Musharraf while he is visiting the United States.

Newspaper offices and journalists were inundated with telephone calls and text messages inquiring about the rumours, which coincided with a widespread power cut.

Musharraf has survived several assassination attempts since withdrawing Pakistan's support for the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan in 2001, after the Islamist militia refused to surrender its guest, Osama bin Laden, in the wake of al Qaeda's September 11 attacks on the United States.

Musharraf, who came to power in a bloodless military coup seven years ago and has controversially held onto his role as chief of army staff, is due to launch his autobiography, entitled "In the Line of Fire," in New York on Monday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060924/wl_nm/pakistan_musharraf_dc_1