Pakistan troops on alert

ISLAMABAD (AP): Pakistan's government put the army on alert ahead of planned opposition protests in the capital, the military said Saturday, raising the stakes in a political crisis that endangers the country's effort against Islamist extremism.

In another sign of strain on the pro-Western government, prominent Information Minister Sherry Rehman announced her resignation from the Cabinet Saturday after the private Geo TV channel complained that cable TV companies had blocked its programming in several cities.

Earlier, leader of the house in Senate and minister for inter-provincial coordination Raza Rabbani tendered his resignation.