Pakistan approves Musharraf poll

Pakistan's cabinet has unanimously approved a national referendum on extending President Pervez Musharraf's term of office for five years.

According to an official statement, a joint session of the cabinet, provincial governors and the National Security Council of military chiefs agreed to hold the referendum on "important national issues".

It said General Musharraf will address the nation on Friday to give details of the planned vote.

The president has made it clear that he intends to legitimise his rule through a referendum.

The poll will give Pakistanis an opportunity to say if they want him to stay on as their president for another five years after parliamentary elections scheduled for October.

General Musharraf, who led a bloodless coup in October 1999, ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's elected government, charging it with corruption and abuse of power.