Pakistan Army denies reports of coup

The denial comes after a media report of a coup following the seizure of rockets and arrest of eight militants.

The Pakistan Army has dismissed as "fabricated, malicious and ridiculous" a media report of a coup following the seizure of rockets and arrest of eight Al Qaeda-affiliated militants.

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Defence spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said a report by Asia Times Online claiming that there was an attempt to stage a coup against President Pervez Musharraf had "no iota of truth" and was "without any proof". He also dismissed reports of arrest of armed forces officers.

The report, quoting contacts in Rawalpindi, said a plot to stage a coup against Musharraf soon after his return from the US has been uncovered, resulting in the arrest of more than 40 people, including some middle-ranking Pakistan Air Force officers.

There were also rumours about a coup coinciding with a major power breakdown on September 24 and reports claimed that six to eight senior army officers were involved in it.

Sultan was quoted by Pakistan daily The Nation as rejecting any linkage between reports of coup and the power breakdown. "The report on power breakdown has already been submitted to the government and the responsibility has been fixed for power failure," he said adding, some officials of Power Department were suspended for negligence.