Pakistan's Musharraf urges party support in crisis

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 7 (Reuters): Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has berated his ruling coalition for leaving him isolated in a growing crisis that threatens to destabilise a country on the front line of a global anti-terrorism campaign.
Musharraf, who is also army chief, is due to address the nation, perhaps Thursday, government officials said, when he is expected to set out his position in a crisis he precipitated by suspending Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9.
The address would come hard on the heels of the detention of hundreds of opposition activists and a clamp-down on the broadcast media.
Opposition parties pushing for the restoration of democracy were due to hold protests Thursday while the government was also expected to face criticism in parliament, which began a new session Wednesday.
The News newspaper said Musharraf told ruling party members of parliament they were failing to come to his support.
"I bluntly say you always leave me alone in times of trial and tribulation," the paper, citing unidentified participants at the Wednesday meeting, quoted Musharraf as saying.
"I see the party nowhere. You people are not mobilised," he was quoted as telling ruling Pakistan Muslim League members.
The suspension of Chaudhry over unspecified misconduct outraged lawyers and opposition and has blown up into the biggest challenge to Musharraf's authority since he took power in 1999.
But while the crisis is seen to have weakened Musharraf's political position in the run-up to elections, the crucial support of the army and the United States has been unwavering.