Pakistani leader Musharraf dubbed 'dictator' after deporting election rival Sharif

He defied his country's Supreme Court and ordered Sharif, who had vowed to bring him down, out of the country.

General Musharraf is a key ally of George Bush in the war on terror but his actions alarmed Western diplomats.

Scroll down for more...

One Islamabad-based official said: "Musharraf is acting as a dictator and it could be argued this makes a mockery of democracy."

The deportation is likely to deepen Musharraf's unpopularity in the run-up to presidential and legislative elections.

He will face a further challenge next month when another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, who is exiled in London, hopes to contest the elections.

Sharif's renewed exile could clear the way for Miss Bhutto and Musharraf to reach a deal but she may face growing opposition within her own party.

Sharif, who was ousted in a 1999 coup that saw Musharraf installed as leader, had said he wanted to challenge him in upcoming elections.

Scroll down for more...

The country's Supreme Court, which has frequently clashed with the president, gave him permission to return.

However, amid tight security that prevented Sharif supporters from entering Islamabad airport to meet the flight from Heathrow, he was separated from his entourage and put on board a helicopter.

Later, he was transferred to a plane bound for Saudi Arabia.

The European Union criticized the move, saying the Supreme Court ruling should be respected. Authorities had imposed a major clampdown before Sharif flew in, detaining many leaders, spokesmen and activists of his Pakistan Muslim League party and stopping supporters from travelling to the capital.

Musharraf's grip on power has faltered after a failed attempt to oust the country's leading judge ignited mass protests, but he still plans to seek a new five-year term in office by mid-October.

Scroll down for more...

His government is also struggling to combat surging Islamic extremism that has spread from the Afghan border where Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

Sharif's party was unable to mobilise mass protests but small groups of supporters clashed with police as they tried to make their way past barricades to get to the airport.

A Sharif party spokesman said: "For all practical purposes there is now martial law in Pakistan and Pervez Musharraf is the chief martial law administrator."