Am I Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, queries Musharraf

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has demanded an explanation for his portrayal in the Western media in recent months, and asked did he have a split personality.

Islamabad, Nov 17 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has demanded an explanation for his portrayal in the Western media in recent months, and asked did he have a split personality.

Musharraf was speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme after administering oath to the caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro. "Did I go mad? Or suddenly, my personality changed? Am I Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?" he asked.

"Have I done anything constitutionally illegal? Yes, I did it on 3 November," he said, referring to his imposition of emergency rule.

"But did I do it before? Not once."

Musharraf blamed judges and opposition politicians for trying to derail the political and democratic process in Pakistan.

"Who is trying to derail the political and democratic process? Am I? Or is it some elements in the Supreme Court - the Chief Justice and his coterie... and now some elements in the political field?"

Musharraf also hit out at former premier Benazir Bhutto, and dismissed her hopes of coming to power in elections.

He said Bhutto in fact feared the polls, set for January, because her party was unpopular and she would lose.

Musharraf has been criticised for seizing powers and declaring emergency in Pakistan.

ANI