Islamabad: In a sudden move, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf held a special meeting of the Army's Corps Commanders on November 18 as the crisis over forming a new government deepened after talks between pro-military parties and hard-line religious parties broke down over the issue of his Presidency and Constitutional amendments.

The special Corps Commanders meeting, which was convened at short notice at the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was held in the backdrop of the announcement by the six religious party alliance Muthahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) that its talks with pro- government PML-Q to form a new elected government have broken down.

The MMA cited Musharraf's refusal to relinquish the post of the chief of Army staff and abrogate the Constitutional amendments, which empowered him and the military with more powers as the main reasons for the break down of talks.

The Commanders' meeting comes ahead of November 19 elections to the post of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Candidates of all the top three parties including the PML-Q filed their nominations on November 18.

Addressing the meeting, Musahrraf reiterated that the present government would not in any way try to influence the future political set-up in the country, nor backed any particular individual, party or group.

The Corps Commanders meeting also reviewed geo-strategic environment in the region and situation on the international borders, line of control and working boundary, an official release said.

PTI