Opposition Will Boycott Musharraf Election

Pakistani opposition leaders vow to vacate their legislative seats to protest President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election next week, the BBC reports. Members of the influential MMA religious alliance say they will resign from parliament and four provincial assemblies, which decide who will be the next president.

The resignations aren't enough to pose a threat to Musharraf's re-election, but could further erode the credibility of the deeply unpopular president. The Supreme Court, which is about to rule on whether Musharraf can can run for president while remaining army chief, earlier yesterday ordered the release of opposition activists rounded up and detained in a sweep last week. (More Pervez Musharraf stories.)