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Pak army chief won't quit

Andrew Hill in Islamabad

The Pakistan army chief has broken silence to crush speculation that he might resign because of reported differences with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief.

''We enjoy excellent relations with the government,'' General Pervez Musharraf said. ''I'll complete my term, inshallah (god willing),'' he told reporters at a diplomatic function.

It was General Musharraf's first public statement since an unexpected US expression of concern on Tuesday about a possible fourth military takeover in Pakistan because of political upheaval.

''We hope there will be no return to the days of interrupted democracy in Pakistan.... We would strongly oppose any attempt to change the government through extra-constitutional means,'' said a US official in Washington.

Asked to comment on the US statement, General Musharraf replied, ''It's an old story. I don't want to comment. I am a soldier and don't want to enter into any controversy.''

UNI

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