Zardari not quitting, says spokesman amid speculation

Asif Ali Zardari has gone to Dubai for medical tests, his spokesman said today as speculation mounted in Pakistan that the President may step down, apparently under intense army pressure over the 'memogate' scandal.

Reacting to reports that Zardari, who is at the centre of the controversy, may bow out, Farhatullah Babar described them as "totally speculative".

The reports in 'The Cable'-- a blog of prestigious US magazine 'Foreign Policy' - had said Zardari, who had gone to Dubai for treatment, would not return, apparently giving in to intense heat put up by the powerful Generals.

Zardari, 56, left for Dubai yesterday on a private visit to meet his children and undergo some medical tests, officials reports had said.

But, The Cable quoting unnamed officials from the Obama administration said there is growing expectations inside the US Government that Zardari may be on the way out.

A former US official told the Cable that parts of the US government were informed that Zardari had a "minor heart attack" on Monday night and flew to Dubai via air ambulance.

He may have angioplasty today and may also resign on account of "ill health", said the blog, which has been filing a series of stories on Pakistan related to memogate.

Zardari's trip comes as he has come under pressure over the memogate scandal that had forced Pakistani Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani to resign.

"All these media reports are totally speculative. The President is in a hospital in Dubai for medical tests and a check-up as already planned," Babar told PTI.

He did not give details of the medical tests or the President's plans to return to Pakistan.