Mush-Benazir deal: Few loose ends to be tied up

London, Sep 6: President Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto have reportedly reached an understanding on the power sharing deal with few loose ends still remaining to be tied up, sources have said. Musharraf"s aides have returned to Islamabad with an agreed draft of a compromise package, and briefed the General who, it is believed, would convey his response in a day or two.

Meanwhile, Bhutto is said to have convened a meeting of advisers within the party as well as some local and foreign consultants on Friday to discuss the final package, which she expects to receive from Musharraf.

"When you make a deal compromises have to be made," sources said when asked if Musharraf had agreed to dilute his powers to dissolve the assemblies by seeking prior approval of the Supreme Court.

They gave the same answer when questioned about Bhutto"s demand that local body governments suspended two months before the general elections.

Commenting on when Musharraf would doff his uniform, sources said once the two parties signed the deal, Musharraf would announce the date of his retirement from the army.

Sources refused to rule out the possibility of Musharraf contesting his election without the uniform.

It appears that Musharraf is prepared to give up a large number of his strongly held political positions to see that a 'free, fair and transparent" general election is held without the two — Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

However, observers said that it would not be possible to keep Bhutto out if Sharif as promised returned home on September 10. ANI>