Lawyers representing the ousted former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, say they want the new military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, to appear as a defence witness.

They were speaking after Mr Sharif was formally charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and hijacking.

He's accused of plotting to stop a plane carrying General Musharraf from landing, on the day of the coup in October.

Mr Sharif strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Sharif said in court that he had not hijacked the plane, but General Musharraf had hijacked a democratically-elected government. His trial starts later this month.

If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service