Musharraf bids farewell to fellow commanders

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf bid farewell to his fellow commanders yesterday, a day before he steps down as army chief to restore Pakistan to civilian rule.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif, the man Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup, said Musharraf's removal from the army would make "a lot of difference," but insisted the president do much more to end Pakistan's political crisis.

A guard of honor of about 150 army, navy and air force personnel stood to attention as Musharraf arrived at the army headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.