Envoys of Pakistan's Musharraf meet Bhutto in UK

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (Reuters) Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf has sent representatives to London to negotiate with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on a power-sharing pact, a government official said.

Pakistan is facing weeks of uncertainty and the risk of turmoil as army chief Musharraf prepares to secure another term as president while his opponents vow to end military rule.

In a blow to Musharraf, a junior minister resigned from the cabinet, saying he objected to the president's plan to seek another term while remaining army chief.

Minister of State for Information Technology Ishaq Khan Khakwani said he was resigning because of Musharraf's plan but would vote for him if he stepped down as army chief.

The United States and other Western countries are likely to watch developments closely in a nuclear-armed ally seen as vital to efforts to tackle terrorism and pacify Afghanistan.

''We are in contact with Benazir Bhutto, that's true,'' said Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, referring to newspaper reports that three senior Musharraf confidants were in London for talks. He declined to elaborate.

Musharraf, who analysts say is at his weakest since he seized power in a 1999 coup, met self-exiled Bhutto in Abu Dhabi last month. Liberal-minded Bhutto is seen as a natural ally of Musharraf's who promotes a vision of ''enlightened moderation''.

Her Pakistan People's Party is generally seen as the country's most popular party, and a pact with her would broaden Musharraf's support base.

But Bhutto, a two-time prime minister who has corruption charges hanging over her, has said any deal would depend on Musharraf taking confidence-building steps by the end of August.

DEMANDS She wants immunity for the actions of civilian governments from when she first came to power in 1988 and the lifting of a ban on a prime minister serving a third term.

She is also demanding that Musharraf resign from the army.

''If our negotiations fall apart, we can always turn to the other political party,'' she told Newsweek magazine in its latest issue, referring to the party of her old rival, another former prime minister in exile in London, Nawaz Sharif.

Musharraf intends to seek re-election from the national and provincial assemblies, while remaining army chief, between mid-September and mid-October and hold parliamentary elections within months. But he will face opposition.

Musharraf has called for reconciliation and some newspapers reported that he had sent representatives to talk to Sharif but Information Minister Durrani denied that.

Sharif, also a two-time prime minister, was ousted in the 1999 coup and later sent into exile by Musharraf. The Supreme Court ruled last week that Sharif should be allowed to return.

After the coup, Musharraf co-opted the rump of Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League to form his political base, and analysts say that could splinter if Sharif were to return.

An intelligence official said the government was keen to prevent Sharif's return before a presidential election but he could come back later, adding that that message was sent to Sharif via Saad al-Hariri, son of assassinated Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Rafik al-Hariri and Saudi Arabia helped work out the agreement under which, the government says, Sharif agreed to 10 years exile and was allowed to leave in 2000.

But Sharif said there was no agreement with the government.

Both Bhutto and Sharif are meeting party colleagues in London this week to work out their strategies.

Reuters RKM VP0100