Pakistani PM called UK, fearing coup

[dipsydoodle]

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Pakistan's prime minister telephoned the top British diplomat in the country this week expressing fears that the Pakistani army might be about to stage a coup, a British official and an official in Islamabad said Friday.

The call, which one official said was "panicky", suggests there was - or perhaps still is - a genuine fear at the highest level of the Pakistani government that army might carry out a coup or support possible moves by the Supreme Court to topple the civilian leadership.

Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani asked High Commissioner Adam Thomson for Britain to support his embattled government, according to the officials, who didn't give their names because of the sensitivity of the issue. It's unclear if the British government took any action.

Such is the weakness of state institutions, Pakistani leaders have often looked to foreign powers, especially the United States and Gulf countries, to intervene in domestic affairs, mediate disputes between feuding power centers or "guarantee" agreements between them.

Associated Press Jan 13, 6:27 AM EST http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=TXWIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[morningfog]

1. Thanks for posting, I'll be following this.

[maddezmom]

2. Pakistan, UK deny call expressing coup fears

Pakistan, UK deny call expressing coup fears
By KATHY GANNON, Associated Press – 16 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's prime minister telephoned the top British diplomat in the country this week expressing fears that the Pakistani army might be about to stage a coup, a British official and an official in Islamabad said Friday.

The Pakistani and British governments denied the report, which comes as tensions between Pakistan's army and government have soared in recent days, leading to speculation that the army might try to oust the civilian leadership.

Pakistani leaders have often looked to foreign powers, especially the United States and Gulf countries, to intervene in domestic affairs, mediate disputes between feuding power centers or "guarantee" agreements between them.

The army, which has staged four coups in Pakistan's history and is believed to consider itself the only true custodian of the country's interests, has never liked the civilian government headed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari.

more:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huDkaRSPdBPnyZU4hmWmBmZg2Z8A?docId=f8efd00128054a1ab1b4e8e2956c520d

[David__77]

3. I wouldn't be surprised.

And no one should be surprised if there is a nationalist-oriented coup that would redirect relations with the US specifically. Pakistani leaders have not been very good at defending the national territory and sovereignty.