Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP):

Pakistan's ruling coalition will seek to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, party leaders announced yesterday, cranking up pressure on the United States-backed former general to resign.

Despite his unpopularity in Pakistan, Musharraf has so far resisted calls to step down and insisted he will serve out his current five-year term after he was elected in a contentious parliamentary vote in October.

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for eight years and became a close US ally after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but ceded control of the powerful army last year and has been largely sidelined since the coalition parties trounced his allies in February parliamentary elections.