ISLAMABAD, Dec 30 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf formally told the nation Thursday that he would stay on as army chief after controversially breaking an earlier promise to hang up his uniform by the year's end.
Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and has since become a key ally in the US war on terror, gave his reasons for keeping his military and civilian roles in a television and radio address.
"I have decided to retain both the offices," he said.
Musharraf had vowed in another television broadcast in December 2003 that he would become a fully civilian leader. But last month Pakistan's parliament enacted a controversial law allowing him to backtrack.
He had also indicated he would renege on the promise in a short television interview earlier this month, saying he would give his reasons in his national addresss.
Wearing a sober grey suit and a blue shirt and tie for Thursday's 50-minute speech, he said the opposition had tried to capitalise on the debate over his army status.
"I know that uniform is a non-issue for the people of Pakistan. They (the opposition) are doing it to take political mileage out of it," he added.
However he extended a "hand of friendship" to opposition parties, saying he wanted to create a bright future for the country.
12/30/2004 16:00 GMT - AFP