MPs began casting votes today in Pakistan’s presidential election in which the favourite by far is the scandal-tainted pro-US widower of murdered ex-PM Benazir Bhutto.

Hundreds of opponents of Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf jailed since the weekend were ordered to be released today by the country’s chief justice.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf will step down as army chief and restore civilian rule to Pakistan, but only after he secures re-election as president, a government lawyer said today.