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Sattar Clueless, US Incensed

Aziz Haniffa,
India Abroad correspondent in Washington

The United States is incensed over General Pervez Musharraf declaring himself President of Pakistan.

The visiting Pakistani foreign minister Abdul Sattar said he was completely in the dark and was informed of it only after his meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Administration sources said Powell felt "blindsided" and was apparently "very angry".

Earlier on Tuesday, Sattar had kicked off his 90 minute meeting with Powell and other officials by declaring that Pakistan would hold elections next year.

"Musharraf's decision made him (Powell) look foolish," the sources said.

The sources added that Musharraf's decision would affect any US plans to lift sanctions imposed on Pakistan.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher responding to Musharraf's surprise decision said, "Foreign Minister Sattar did not inform us of this development." The US was very disappointed that Pakistan has taken another turn from democracy and sanctions would not be lifted till a democratically elected government takes office, he added.

A visibly embarrassed Sattar in a press conference said he had heard about the development "last night," but then changed it to say, "I was informed last evening."

Sattar tried to justify Musharraf's decision saying, "Sooner or later, they (assemblies) had to be removed in order to prepare for the elections next year."

At the news conference, Sattar also accused India of violating the United Nations charter by refusing third party mediation on Kashmir.

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