Musharraf Plans to Stay Prez Despite Loss

Pervez Musharraf wants to stay president despite his party's crushing defeat in Pakistan's national election, he told the Wall Street Journal today. He said he hopes to aid the country's transition to democracy and cooperate with the next prime minister. "We have to move forward in a way that we bring about a stable democratic government to Pakistan," he said.

The leading Pakistan People's Party may prefer an allegiance with Musharraf over Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, analysts say. Sharif demands an independent judiciary, which could hurt the PPP by revoking amnesty for leader Asif Ali Zardari. "Let the political parties meet with each other and form a coalition," Musharraf said. "If anyone thinks I can facilitate in a positive way for Pakistan, I would like to do it." (More Pakistan stories.)