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US to consider Musharraf's asylum if asked - official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-20 09:22

Washington - The United States will consider providing former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf with asylum if he asks, US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Tuesday.

A man reads a newspaper with leading news of President Pervez Musharraf's resignation at a stall in Karachi August 19, 2008. [Agencies]

"We haven't been asked to provide him with any asylum or place of residence," Wood said of Musharraf's future.

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"If he chooses to take up residence somewhere, I mean if he were to request that, we would obviously look at it," Wood told reporters.

Musharraf, who took power in 1999 in a military coup, resigned Monday in the face of impeachment threats. In his resignation speech, Musharraf said that "Some elements prefer personal interests to national interests. They leveled baseless allegations against me. They deceived the people."

Pakistan's ruling coalition parties on August 7 announced that they would launch an impeachment against the president. The speculation about Musharraf's resignation has mounted since then.

Musharraf, who left presidential office Monday, vowed to defend himself in the face of impeachment. But he added that "For me, it is always Pakistan first."

It was reported that the former Pakistani leader might leave the country for security.