Commonwealth ministers have called on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to give up his dual role and step down as army chief by 2007. At a meeting in London Friday, the foreign ministers from the 53-nation group said President Musharraf's decision to remain in his military post is deeply troubling. General Musharraf had promised to step down as military chief at the end of last year. But he reversed his decision, saying he would stay on in the interest of peace and stability. A U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday the United States would also like to see Mr. Musharraf shed his general's uniform, but believes getting ready for free elections in 2007 is more important towards building democracy.
