Monday, January 30 2006 18:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Describing Pakistan under President Pervez Musharraf as a 'failed democracy,' ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has accused him of degrading the country's name in the world.

"General Musharraf has degraded Pakistan's name in the world," 58-year-old Sharif, who flew in here for the first time after he went into exile in Saudi Arabia in 2000, told reporters last night.

Asserting that Pakistan under Musharraf was a failed democracy, Sharif, who is here to visit his 28-year-old ailing son Hassan, who is being treated for an undisclosed illness, said he has to 'decide today whether Pakistan is going to be ruled by its people or by a few guards.'

Musharraf had ousted Sharif in a military coup in 1999 and sent him to jail. Sharif was allowed to go into exile in Saudi Arabia in 2000.

Sharif condemned the January 13 US air-strike that killed at least 13 civilians along the Pakistani-Afghan frontier, where al-Qaeda terror network's chief Osama bin Laden, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri are thought to be hiding.

The former premier, during a hurriedly called press conference after arrival at Heathrew airport, refused to talk about his exile in Saudi Arabia and the corruption and terrorism charges brought against him in his country.

He said his party, Pakistan Muslim League, would not cooperate with Musharraf. About 800 supporters greeted Sharif when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.