| President Pervez Musharraf who resigned as President of Pakistan would not leave the country. Several close aides said Musharraf was not set to go into exile as several of Pakistan's former leaders have done. "He is not going anywhere," one aide said. Musharraf's resignation was to be formally handed in to parliament later in the day. The leaders of the ruling coalition, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, later met in Islamabad. Television footage showed them smiling broadly and shaking hands but they made no immediate comment. Bhutto's son Bilawal said Musharraf's successor would be from her party but there was no immediate indication about any candidates. Cheering crowds poured into the streets after President Musharraf announced his resignation in an address telecast on television. However, there was little immediate reaction from outside the country with the exception of Afghanistan. "We hope that the resignation of President Musharraf... leads to a strengthening of the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan," said foreign ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen in Afghanistan. |