Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest and her detention orders withdrawn just hours before Pakistan's President Perzez Musharraf swears in an interim government of his choosing and a US diplomat arrives for talks, Reuters reports. "She is free to move wherever she likes," said a police official. Bhutto had been detained—again—since Tuesday, to prevent her from attending a demonstration opposing emergency rule.
Bhutto's release comes as Musharraf gets set to swear in a close ally as interim prime minister to govern until January elections. John Negroponte, deputy secretary of state, is due to arrive tomorrow to press the US case for a resumption of civilian rule. Bhutto today ruled out any power-sharing deal with Musharraf, and 3 people were killed in protests in Karachi. (More Pakistan stories.)