Pakistan's new Parliament begins session

Pakistan's new Parliament met for the first time today in the shadow of a potential confrontation with President Pervez Musharraf as the incoming coalition led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) vowed to end his "dictatorship."

"This is the last day of dictatorship," Asif Ali Zardari, chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) which is set to head a coalition government after crushing Musharraf's allies in the Feb 18 poll, told reporters at the tightly-guarded Parliament building.

The newly elected MPs were administered the oath in the national assembly dominated by parties opposing Musharraf who have vowed to clip his wings.

Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who did not contest the election, watched the proceedings from the gallery reserved for guests.

The coalition partners - PPP (120 seats), PML-N (90 seats) and ANP (13) earlier held a joint parliamentary party meeting after which Zardari said: "This is our first step. We have conveyed a message to the world community to support democracy which defeats dictatorship."

Sharif said the coalition's strategy was "very clear - our agenda is democracy versus dictatorship. It has to end, it has to be defeated."

Musharraf, on his part, continued to resist calls to step down as President saying he had to stay in power as there was "vacuum of proper leadership."

"We are not a dictatorship, the system must function," he said in an interview broadcast yesterday.

PPP, meanwhile, was yet to settle differences within the party on nominating a Prime Ministerial candidate. PPP members wore black bands and sported badges featuring a picture of their slain leader Benazir Bhutto.

(Reporting by Rezaul H Laskar)