Pakistan

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced Monday that he will resign, giving in to intense political pressure and raising questions about the future of the U.S.-led war on global terrorism. Musharraf is leaving the presidency before the Pakistani Parliament throws him out. A coalition of his opponents, swept into power in February elections, has been drawing up impeachment charges against him and claimed to have the votes (two thirds of Parliament) to oust him. In a rambling address on Pakistani television, a solemn Musharraf defended his record and said he was confident he could have beaten the impeachment charges against him. But he said he was willing to sacrifice himself to bring stability to his nuclear-armed nation: "Can this country afford ay more confrontation? ... Can the country afford any more economic upheaval?"