ISLAMABAD (AFP) — Pakistani police arrested dozens of stone-throwing protesters outside the Supreme Court amid a growing crackdown described by key ally the United States as "extremely disturbing."
Meanwhile a retired judge who opted to resign rather than swear allegiance to President Pervez Musharraf following his 1999 coup announced that he would stand against Musharraf in presidential elections due on October 6.
An alliance of pro-democracy parties has vowed to block military ruler Musharraf from securing another five-year term in the polls, which will be conducted by the outgoing national and provincial parliaments.
Scores of flag-waving opposition demonstrators in Islamabad hurled stones at police who tried to stop them reaching the court and shouted slogans including "America's friends are traitors" and "Go, Musharraf, go!"
Police on horseback charged at the protesters to disperse them after a series of clashes, an AFP reporter said. Officers wearing helmets and carrying shields and batons dragged at least three dozen of them into vans.
Police arrested several opposition leaders at the weekend, including Javed Hashmi, the acting chief of the party of exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif, as well as the head of a hardline Islamic party.
The US embassy in Islamabad issued a rare statement on Monday calling for the release of all those arrested. Washington is normally sparing in its criticism of Pakistan, regarded as vital for the "war on terror".
"The reports of arrests of the leadership of several major Pakistani political parties are extremely disturbing and confusing for the friends of Pakistan," the embassy statement said.
The European Union also expressed concern and urged the government to follow legal processes.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said 42 people had been arrested as of Sunday but said the detentions were "just preventative action."
"When opposition parties say they will surround the Supreme Court and Election Commission and burn nomination papers, the government must take action to maintain law and order," he said.
The Supreme Court on Monday resumed hearing a string of petitions filed by the All Parties Democracy Movement, the opposition alliance that is behind the anti-Musharraf protest campaign and whose members are being arrested.
The appeals argue that Musharraf is ineligible to stand in the poll, that his dual role as president and army chief is illegal and that he should be chosen by a new parliament that is due to be elected by early 2008.
The court on Monday dismissed two minor petitions filed by members of the public but is expected to rule on the opposition legal challenges on Tuesday or, more likely, Wednesday.
Analysts say that if the court bars Musharraf from taking part in the elections he could dissolve parliament or even declare a state of emergency or martial law.
In a dramatic start to Monday's proceedings, an anti-Musharraf advocate sprayed black ink in the face of a senior government lawyer, sparking angry scenes, television footage showed.
Later it emerged that Musharraf now faces his first challenger for the presidency -- albeit one who has almost no chance of winning, thanks to the fact that Musharraf has a majority in parliament.
Former Supreme Court judge Wajih-udin Ahmad, 67, said he would stand in the poll after being nominated by lawyers, who have opposed Musharraf since he tried to sack the country's chief justice in March.
"It is my national duty to fight dictatorship so I have given my consent to be nominated for the presidential election," Ahmad told AFP by telephone from his home in Karachi.
None of the major political parties have fielded a candidate.
Musharraf has vowed to quit the army by November 15 if he is elected, but his opponents say he should hang up his uniform first.
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