Parliament meets again in Pakistan

A semblance of civilian rule returned to Pakistan yesterday when General Pervez Musharraf, the army chief who ousted the last government in a bloodless coup and a key ally in America's war against terrorism, was sworn in as President for another five years. The new parliament finally met for the first time since 1999, but there was no indication of who will become Prime Minister.

Politicians have yet to agree on which parties will form an administration, and efforts to cobble together a fractious coalition will continue this week. A new constitution guarantees that the military will keep its iron grip on power by granting Mr Musharraf the authority to dismiss the legislature if it crosses him.

An alliance of six Muslim fundamentalist parties, known as the MMA, emerged in last month's election as an unexpected power broker. Despite her differences with the religious right, the party of the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, has agreed to form a coalition with the mullahs. The price is her support for the unashamedly pro-Taliban leader, Maulana Fazl-ur Rahman, as Prime Minister, though he has assured her his foreign policy would be pragmatic.

The pro-Musharraf party was also negotiating with the fundamentalists for support. But so far, they are at loggerheads over who would be Prime Minister, as well as over the President's role.

He has been under international pressure to nudge the country towards democracy and Pakistan was blocked from the Commonwealth last month because of delays.