Bhutto and Sharif Join Forces

Pakistan's exiled opposition leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have met for the first time to call for the restoration of democracy and the end of military-dominated rule.

The former political rivals met in Saudi Arabia, where Mr Sharif fled after being ousted from power by General Pervez Musharraf in a bloodless military coup in 1999. Ms Bhutto, a former prime minister, fled Pakistan in 1998 to avoid corruption charges.

Newspapers carried front-page photographs of the meeting, which many Pakistani analysts hailed as a significant step.

Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Zardari, told Geo television that they had vowed to "bury their bitter past". They issued a statement calling for fresh elections, an independent electoral commission and "an end to dictatorships for all time to come".

Their respective political parties have joined under the banner Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy.

President Musharraf is facing renewed calls to reintroduce civilian politics.

But there was little sign that yesterday's meeting would increase the pressure on him in the short term, analysts said.

"There is no solid, coherent opposition that gives the government a reason for alarm. The military establishment is strongly entrenched," said Talat Masood, a retired army officer.

Under a deal to avoid prison, Mr Sharif is due to remain in exile until 2010.

Ms Bhutto is threatened with corruption charges.