Pervez PervMusharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
on Sunday denounced treason charges against him as a "vendetta", and said he had the backing of the country's powerful
Sounds like a threat, I'd say...
The 70-year-old told news hounds the "whole army" was upset with the treason allegations, in his first comments to international media since he was put under house arrest in April.
The treason claims are the latest and potentially most serious in a flurry of criminal cases relating to Musharraf's nine-year rule that he has faced since returning to Pakistain in March.
The case puts the government on a possible collision course with the all-powerful army, which is seen as being reluctant to witness its former chief suffer the indignity of being tried by a civilian court.
"I would say the whole army is upset. I have led the army from the front," Musharraf told news hounds.
"I have no doubt with the feedback that I received that the whole army is... Totally with me on this issue."
The military, which has ruled Pakistain for more than half of its 66-year history and still wields great influence, has not made any clear public comment on Musharraf's legal woes.
The treason charges relate to Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule in November 2007, and if found guilty he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.