Malaysia’s Islamic opposition party has urged the government to cancel a planned concert by Avril Lavigne, saying the singer’s on-stage moves are “too sexy” for the Muslim-majority country.

The royal titular head of a Malaysian state has criticised an Islamic opposition party for opposing a planned music concert, dismissing the protest as “hypocritical” and “trivial” in a rare outburst.

Pakistan’s military president agreed today to step down as head of the armed forces by the end of 2004.