Pressure mounts on Pakistan president

Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf has called for reconciliation to tackle economic problems and Islamist militancy.

Mr Musharraf's appeal, however, has failed to stop coalition government attempts to force him from power.

One senior official has said preparations to impeach Mr Musharraf are 'on track' if he refuses to resign.

Mr Musharraf, speaking in a televised Independence Day address, did not refer to the plan to impeach him drawn up by a coalition government led by the party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

In his first public comments since the coalition announced its impeachment plan last week, the former army chief and firm US ally also did not refer to the calls for him to step down.

He said: "If we want to put our economy on the right track and fight terrorism then we need political stability. Unless we bring political stability, I think we can't fight them properly."

Mr Musharraf has been at the centre of a political crisis since last year that has heightened concerns in the US and among its allies about the stability of Pakistan, a nuclear-armed Muslim state that is also a hiding place for al-Qaeda leaders.

He seized power in a 1999 coup but has been isolated since his allies lost a February election. Speculation has been rife that he would quit rather than face impeachment, though his spokesman has denied that.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.