Gen may drop uniform before polls

Musharraf, who has seen his popularity plummet in recent months, wants to get re-elected president for another five years between mid-September and mid-October, before his term as Army chief expires at the end of the year.

Under his plan, a general election will then be held at the end of the year or early next year.

But US ally Musharraf faces opposition 8212; legal challenges on constitutional grounds and perhaps even street protests 8212; raising concern about stability in the nuclear-armed country seen as vital to efforts to tackle terrorism and pacify Afghanistan.

An agreement with Bhutto would help Musharraf secure another term. But Bhutto is insisting he stand down as Army chief before he runs for re-election.

8220;President Musharraf has offered to doff the uniform even before the presidential elections,8221; the Dawn reported.

8220;But in the trade-off, he wants all political parties to agree to elect him president 8230; after the new assemblies come into being following the next general election.8221;

A cabinet minister declined to comment except to say Musharraf had made up his mind on his uniform.