Briefly

PAKISTAN

Former leader Pervez Musharraf dies at 79

Pakistan's former president and army chief General Pervez Musharraf, 79, died in a hospital in Dubai after a prolonged illness on Sunday, Pakistan's military confirmed. Musharraf, born in 1943, got his commission from the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 and joined the Pakistan army in 1964. He was appointed army chief in 1998 before he took over power from the civilian government in 1999. He was elected as president through a referendum in 2002 and ruled the country until 2008. According to local media reports, his body will be taken to Pakistan for funeral and burial.

BRAZIL

Hundreds charged over assault on state powers

A total of 653 people have been charged with crimes related to the assault on the seats of power in Brasilia on Jan 8, Brazil's attorney general's office said on Saturday. The office said in a statement that proceedings were opened against a new group of 152 followers of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro supporters set up the camp after the elections in October when Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected president. The group is accused of criminal association and inciting the armed forces against constitutional powers.

Xinhua - Agencies