Victory close for opposition as voters reject Musharraf

PAKISTANI President Pervez Musharraf's opponents headed for a big election victory today after voters rejected his former ruling party.

No party was expected to win a majority in the 342-seat parliament but the opposition parties of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif appeared to have won enough to command a majority, according to unofficial results.

However, there was no confirmation from the parties, which have been fierce rivals in the past, that they would form a coalition.

According to unofficial results from 241 seats this morning, Bhutto's PPP had won 80 and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) had 64. The pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (PML) trailed with 37.

At least 20 people were reported to have died in election-day violence, with the PPP reporting 15 of its members killed. There were also reports of missing ballot boxes.