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Musharraf leaves for Gulf on first trip

Pakistan's new army ruler General Pervez Musharraf today left for Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since seizing power in a coup on October 12.

Army officials said General Musharraf, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed, left at about 0900 hours (local) in a small military aircraft for Saudi Arabia where he would stay for two days before going to the United Arab Emirates.

General Musharraf, who is yet to announce a national security council at the apex of administration to replace the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief, did not invite media to cover his departure.

An official announcement yesterday said General Musharraf's visit ''reaffirms the importance that Pakistan attaches to the fraternal relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE''.

He is due to return on October 27.

Reuters

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