Protesters mark Musharraf talks

Democracy campaigners have held demonstrations at Downing Street where Prime Minister Gordon Brown is holding talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.Pakistan cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan and his ex-wife Jemima Khan among the protesters shouting anti-Musharraf slogans.Ms Khan said of her former husband: "It just happened that coincidentally he was here and I thought it would be a really good boost if he could come. It just shows how high emotions are running."In a message to Mr Brown, she said: "I cannot understand how he can be hosting a dictator and talking about democracy without a great big smile on his face."The President's motorcade arrived at the gates of No 10 shortly after 12.30pm, sparking even louder chants of "go, Musharraf, go".The crowd also waved flags and placards, many of which featured the images of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and her son, Oxford student Bilawal, who took over the leadership of her Pakistan Peoples Party.Mr Khan, who was among leading figures arrested last year as President Musharraf announced a state of emergency, is the leader of the smaller Movement For Justice party.His former wife still retains a strong interest in Pakistani politics and lived in the country while the couple, who have two children, were married.Mr Brown is expected to talk with the President about the troubled country's February 18 general election which protesters fear he will try to delay or rig despite his assurances in London last week that it would go ahead in a "free, fair and transparent" fashion.The two leaders are also expected to discuss the fight against terrorism and the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

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ITN | January 28, 2008

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