Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf said today he was “determined” to lift the country’s state of emergency in just over a fortnight.

Pervez Musharraf embarked on a new, five-year term as Pakistan’s civilian president today.

Pakistan’s president was embarking on a new, five-year term as a civilian president today, after bidding an emotional farewell a day earlier to his job as chief of the army – the source of most of his sweeping political powers.

A Supreme Court hand-picked by President Pervez Musharraf swiftly dismissed legal challenges to his continued rule today, opening the way for him to serve another five-year term this time solely as a civilian president.

Pakistan's military ruler Pervez Musharraf sent troops into the streets and imposed emergency rule tonight, suspending the constitution before a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president.