Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf has sent representatives to London to negotiate with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on a power-sharing pact, a government official said.
Pakistan is facing weeks of uncertainty and the risk of turmoil as army chief General Musharraf prepares to secure another term as president while his opponents vow to end military rule.
In a blow to General Musharraf, a junior minister resigned from the cabinet, saying he objected to the president's plan to seek another term while remaining army chief.
Minister of State for Information Technology Ishaq Khan Khakwani said he was resigning because of General Musharraf's plan but would vote for him if he stepped down as army chief. The United States and other Western countries are likely to watch developments closely in a nuclear-armed ally seen as vital to efforts to tackle terrorism and pacify Afghanistan.
"We are in contact with Benazir Bhutto, that's true," said Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, referring to newspaper reports that three senior Musharraf confidants were in London for talks. He declined to elaborate.
Musharraf, who analysts say is at his weakest since he seized power in a 1999 coup, met self-exiled Bhutto in Abu Dhabi last month. Liberal-minded Bhutto is seen as a natural ally of General Musharraf's who promotes a vision of "enlightened moderation".
Her Pakistan People's Party is generally seen as the country's most popular party, and a pact with her would broaden General Musharraf's support base. But Bhutto, a two-time prime minister who has corruption charges hanging over her, has said any deal would depend on General Musharraf taking confidence-building steps by the end of August.