US ambassador's key-meeting with Musharraf

Rawalpindi, Aug 11 : US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson called on President Pervez Musharraf here, despite mounting calls that he step aside to spare Pakistan the trauma of a bitter impeachment process.

The meeting between Peterson and Musharraf is being given much importance by political circles in the wake of the ruling alliance's move to impeach the President.

It may be recalled that the US Ambassador had recently returned from Washington after some crucial consultations and briefings.

Earlier, the top PPP leadership had clearly told important Western diplomatic emissaries, who recently met the party's Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad, that if Musharraf did not resign by Monday evening, the government would not be in a position to provide him a safe exit and he may be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Peter Body called on Zardari along with two other important officials who had come from Washington to discuss Musharraf's fate two days ago, sources told The News.

Though media reports claiming that US Ambassador Anne Patterson had met Asif Zardari proved to be incorrect as she was outside Pakistan and was expected to return late on Sunday, US Embassy sources confirmed Peter Body met the PPP leader as the charge d'Affaires in her absence.

ANI