Report: Musharraf set to resign

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf intends to resign before his nation's parliament takes up impeachment proceedings against him, CBS News reported Thursday.

Citing two senior Pakistani government officials, CBS said Musharraf has decided to leave office by Sunday, after first turning over his authority to Mohammad Mian Soomro, chairman of the Pakistani senate, who is first in the country's line of presidential succession.

Soomro would serve as acting president until elections could be held -- probably within six to 12 weeks, one of the government officials told CBS.

The National Assembly is considering impeaching Musharraf on charges of misconduct, violating the Constitution and financial irregularities. He has said he will prove the allegations "false before the nation."

Senior Western diplomats told CBS late Thursday Musharraf's resignation would have little impact Pakistan's internal political struggles. However, the change would likely mean the United States will have to establish relations with Pakistan's new leadership.

One of the two Pakistani government sources for the CBS story said the country's military leadership has been careful to distance itself from Pakistani politics. Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani took charge of the military after Musharraf surrendered his role as commander in chief in May 2007 and has generally kept the military out of politics, the report said.