Musharraf Hails Democracy in Pakistan

[freedomnorth]

Source: AP

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday hailed the start of a "new era of real democracy" in Pakistan and pledged his support to the country's incoming government, sure to be packed by foes determined to diminish the power of the embattled U.S.-backed leader.

Musharraf spoke early Sunday at a military parade celebrating Pakistan's national day. The day before, the party of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto named former parliament speaker Yousaf Raza Gilani as its candidate for Pakistan's next prime minister.

"The journey toward democracy and development we started eight years ago is now reaching its destination," said Musharraf, a former army strongman who seized power in a 1999 coup. "A new era of real democracy has begun."

Flatbed trucks rolled past his viewing stand displaying pieces of Pakistan's nuclear-armed arsenal: camouflage-painted Shaheen missiles about 12 yards long. Military helicopters swooped past him flying huge Pakistani flags and spewing decorative, multicolored smoke. Fighter jets flew overhead in formation of a heart.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PAKISTAN_POLITICS

[thunder rising]

1. The parade was to inform the elected gov that he is still on "the button" and will take the country

back anytime he wants. Cheers to Bush for keeping him in power.

[jmondine]

2. Well, that makes one of them

[bemildred]

3. Yep, Pakistan's "democracy process" is on track like always ... nt

[ohio2007]

4. One bloodless coup away from comming back in power

normally when leaders in those parts see change,
they have to flee change.

[spanone]

5. just like his hero, bu$h*.....faux democracy