Pak President Turns Over Nuke Authority

Pak President Turns Over Nuke Authority
November 28, 2009
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's embattled president has relinquished command of the country's nuclear arsenal amid political wrangling that has posed a major distraction to the U.S.-allied government as it fights Taliban and other militants near the Afghan border.

The move came as President Asif Ali Zardari faced the expiration on Saturday of an amnesty protecting him and thousands of other bureaucrats and politicians from a host of corruption and criminal charges.

Zardari enjoys general immunity from prosecution as president, but the Supreme Court could choose to challenge his eligibility for the post since the amnesty decree by ex-military leader Pervez Musharraf was never formally approved by parliament.

Zardari has come under tremendous pressure over past corruption allegations, which he denies, as well as military objections to his overtures toward archrival India and acceptance of a multibillion dollar U.S. aid bill that came with conditions some fear impose unwanted controls over the military.

Zardari's office said the president would be prepared to fight any charges against him.


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