Army takes to streets as emergency rule is declared in Pakistan

The General, who took over the country in a military coup eight years ago, is a key ally in the so-called War on Terror.

But his decision to order troops to take over Pakistan's state-run television and radio stations and force other independent channels off air led to concern in the West.

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Musharraf is also under fire for failing to deal with Islamic militants based in lawless regions of the country and religious schools linked to suicide attacks around the world.

As the military flexed its muscles, the country's chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry - who condemned the moves - was reportedly sacked.

He was being confined to the Supreme Court with ten other judges while police and paramilitaries blocked routes to the building.

The court had been preparing to rule on the legality of General Musharraf's re-election victory last month.

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An announcement on the state-run television channel said: "The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order."

It gave no reason for the emergency.

A senior official at the independent Dawn television station confirmed its transmissions had been shut down.

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned to the country after years of self-exile, was in Dubai when the news broke.

She immediately boarded a flight back to Pakistan. Her spokesman said she was waiting to see if she would be arrested or deported.

Witnesses said 100 police and troops were deployed outside Mrs Bhutto's home in Karachi, though it was not clear if they were there as protection or to apprehend the opposition leader.

Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months and the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taliban militants.

A leading lawyer and opposition figure, Aitzaz Ahsan, told reporters he had been detained as the emergency powers were invoked.

"One man has taken an entire nation hostage," he said.

And exiled former president Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was heading towards anarchy.

Musharraf's troubles began in March when he suspended Justice Chaudhry on allegations of misconduct.

Critics accused him of trying to put pressure on the court not to block his re-election and Musharraf's popularity plummeted as lawyers rallied to support the top judge. Chaudhry was reinstated four months later.

There have also been a wave of militant attacks and suicide bombings.

Yesterday, the mood in Islamabad was tense, with roadblocks and huge numbers of police deployed across the capital.

Lawyers said although the regime called it a "state of emergency", it was closer to martial law.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband last night said he was "gravely concerned" by the measures.