Thousands rally against Musharraf

Rahman attacked Musharraf's "enlightened moderation"

About 10,000 supporters of a radical Islamic alliance have protested against the rule of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in the city of Lahore.

Leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance called on supporters to observe a nationwide strike on 2 April.

MMA head Maulana Fazlur Rahman said Gen Musharraf's "enlightened moderation" was a recipe for "obscenity, loose morals and heretical thinking".

Speakers also condemned US pressure on Pakistan's nuclear programme.

Military action

The rally was held outside Iqbal Park, where the All-India Muslim League passed its famous "Pakistan Resolution" to demand a separate homeland for Indian Muslims on 23 March, 1940.

A nationwide strike has been called for 2 April

The MMA leaders launched their "million march", taking the form of a series of protests, against Gen Musharraf last week.

They accuse the president of reneging on a pledge to stand down as the head of the army.

Another leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, accused US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of putting pressure on the Pakistan government to roll back its nuclear programme and support America in proposed military action against Iran.

Mr Ahmed asked the rally if they supported the action and a resounding "No" was returned.

"See, Musharraf, the people have rejected you," he said.

Mr Ahmed also called for a complete shut down of shops, businesses and all traffic on 2 April.

Another opposition speaker, Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, who has been supporting the million march, said: "Any political party entering into a deal with the general is bound to destroy its own role in Pakistan's national life."

The MMA says that it struck a deal with Gen Musharraf that he would step down as army head by the end of the last year in return for the alliance not opposing radical constitutional reforms.

But Gen Musharraf says the people want him to retain both posts and he needs the positions to continue the war on terrorism.