Musharraf gives Pakistani military courts power to try civilians - Bush backs Musharraf

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/071111pakistan-story,1,6545900.story

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's military ruler has amended a law to give sweeping powers to army courts to try civilians on charges such as treason and inciting public unrest, officials said Sunday as a key opposition leader prepared to stage a massive, 185-mile protest march in defiance of a ban.

The moves came one week after President Pervez Musharraf said he was imposing a state of emergency to help fight Islamic militancy. But the main targets of his crackdown so far have been his most outspoken critics, including the increasingly independent judiciary and media. Musharraf was to hold a press conference with international journalists later Sunday.

Pakistan eased the crackdown Saturday, releasing opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest. Musharraf -- under pressure by the United States and other Western allies to return to the path of democracy -- won praise for agreeing to lift the emergency within weeks and hold elections by Feb. 15, just one month later than originally scheduled.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/645245,CST-NWS-bush11.article

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush backed Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday despite the embattled leader's detour off the path of democracy to impose emergency rule and arrest thousands of opponents.

Pakistan was plunged into political turmoil a week ago when Musharraf declared a state of emergency -- a move his critics say was an attempt to cling to power.

Hours before Bush spoke, Musharraf's government eased its crackdown, releasing opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest, saying it will lift a state of emergency within a month and hold parliamentary elections by Feb. 15 -- one month later than scheduled. But the government blocked a meeting between a deposed Supreme Court justice and Bhutto, who pledged to lead a 185-mile protest march Tuesday.

Bush called Musharraf's moves ''positive steps'' -- words that left no doubt the United States remained squarely behind the Pakistani leader in the fight against Islamic militants.

[madokie]

1. detour off the path of democracy, bushie back mushie

paying close attention to how the american people are responding and taking notes for his own attempt, you can bet on it coming soon to our shores