Zardari's sovereignty warning

Pakistan's president says he will not let his nation's sovereignty be violated by "any power" in the fight against terrorism.

The Pakistan president, Asif Ali Zardari, waves as he arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, on Sept 16 2008, for a meeting with the British prime minister, Gordon Brown.

ISLAMABAD // Pakistan's new president says his nation will not tolerate a violation of its sovereignty by "any power" in the name of fighting terrorism, a clear signal to the US to avoid cross-border strikes. Asif Ali Zardari also asked parliament to form a committee to consider reducing the presidential powers enhanced under his predecessor, Pervez Musharraf. "Never before in the history of this country has a president given away his powers," Mr Zardari said in an address to a joint session of parliament today.

Mr Zardari, the widower of the ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto leads the main ruling party and was elected president earlier this month. He is considered generally pro-American and has warned that battling terrorism is Pakistan's chief challenge. * Agencies