Pakistan president's immunity to be debated

Pakistan's government has bowed to a Supreme Court demand to debate whether the President enjoys immunity from a past corruption case, a concession that could help defuse a crisis threatening the administration.

The government agreed to the demand after the court threatened Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with contempt charges for failing to reopen a decade-old case against President Asif Ali Zardari, and forced the premier to make a rare appearance before the judges.

The government may also be heartened by the Supreme Court's decision not to make any immediate moves to hold Mr Gilani in contempt.