Coalition to decide future after Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The leadership of the Pakistani ruling coalition met again Tuesday to decide on a course of action following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf.

The session was called after the leaders ended a five-hour long meeting Monday without a formal announcement, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The coalition is led by the Pakistan People's Party, led by Asif Ali Zardari, husband of slain Benazir Bhutto. Others in the coalition are a faction of the Pakistani Muslim League led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Awami National Party.

Immediate issues include picking a candidate to succeed Musharraf, restoring judges dismissed by Musharraf, disposition of charges against Musharraf and whether to provide him a safe passage.

Local media said Musharraf has been granted "safe passage" out of the country, CNN reported.

Muhammadmian Soomro, chairman of the Pakistani Senate, will be acting president until a successor is chosen, the report said.

Musharraf, who took power in 1999 after a bloodless coup that deposed Sharif, resigned Monday as he faced impeachment and charges of misconduct, the latest in a series of crises that had dogged him in the past two years while he was a key ally of the United States in the war on terrorism.

U.S. President George W. Bush said in a statement he appreciated "Musharraf's efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaida and extremist groups."