Musharraf shuffles generals, pressing on toward disputed re-election

ISLAMABAD, Saturday (AP) - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf shuffled Pakistan's military brass, pressing on with his plan to stay in power as a civilian president as street protests against his re-election simmered. Musharraf, a key ally of the U.S. in its war on terrorism, this week signaled that he will end eight years of direct military rule if re-elected head of state in a ballot of lawmakers on Oct. 6.

Supporters of a religious parties alliance chant anti-government slogans. AP

Opposition parties claim it would be illegal for Musharraf to contest the vote while still in uniform, and on Friday vowed to quit Parliament in order to deny him legitimacy if his candidacy survives a challenge in the Supreme Court. Musharraf's popularity and his power have eroded since his botched effort to fire the court's chief justice earlier this year. His administration is also struggling to contain a surge in Islamic militancy amid unpopularity over Pakistan's alliance with Washington.

Underscoring the threat, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged Pakistanis to rebel against Musharraf in a new message released Thursday. Even if Musharraf restores civilian rule, the top post in the army will remain a pivotal position in Pakistan, which has alternated between weak civilian government and military rule during its 60-year history.

In a preliminary shuffling of the army's top ranks, the military announced the promotion of six top commanders to the rank of lieutenant general. Musharraf appointed Nadeem Taj, who was his military secretary when he seized power in a 1999 coup, as director-general of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

He replaces Ashfaq Kiani who is among the top generals tipped by analysts as a possible successor to Musharraf as army chief. Another possible successor, Tariq Majid, was replaced as the corps commander of Rawalpindi by Mohsin Kamal. The military didn't say whether Kiani or Majid were being promoted or retired.