Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who is facing impeachment by parliament, has announced his resignation. Mr Musharraf seized power in a coup almost nine years ago. Charles Haviland reports from Islamabad:

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The former general may now have relinquished the political power he clung onto for so long but the tone of his speech was anything but contrite. He said he had believed it was his destiny to save Pakistan, helped by God, and that he had prevented it from being declared a terrorist state.

In a clear reference to the leaders of the big political parties who've opposed him so implacably, Mr Musharraf said there were some elements who considered themselves more important than Pakistan and who were trying to betray the country. He said their allegations against him were false and went into elaborate detail about what he said were the social, economic and infrastructural improvements made during his rule.

Charles Haviland, BBC News, Islamabad

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embattled
under attack (because his continuing rule has caused a lot of controversy)

appeals for reconciliation
strong requests to overcome differences and start working together

fallen on deaf ears
been ignored

impeachment
formally charging a public official, especially a president, with crimes or other serious offences (in order to remove them from public office)

relinquished
given up

clung onto
tried very hard to keep

anything but contrite
not showing any regret or guilt (for the bad things that some people believe he has done)

In a clear reference to
obviously talking about

implacably
showing strong opinions that are impossible to change

went into elaborate detail
talked very specifically, including all the particulars

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