Washington, May 31 : Amid reports that President Pervez Musharraf is panning to quit the Presidency and also that the PPP-led coalition government is training its guns to humiliate the President by impeaching him out, US President George Bush is learnt to have called up his long time ‘anti-terror ally’ to convey his support for him.

The phone call from Washington laid to rest speculation in some quarters in Pakistan and elsewhere that the US had decided to “dump” the Pakistani leader, added the paper.

In a show of solidarity with Musharraf, whom he has described in the past as his “tight” friend, Bush assured him that he looked forward to working with him in his “continuing role in further strengthening US Pakistani relations,” reported the Daily Times.

“He (President Bush) did this morning have a call with President Musharraf of Pakistan. This was a follow up to the meeting he had in Sharm el Sheikh with Prime Minister Gilani. The President reiterated the United States’ strong support for Pakistan, and he indicated he looks forward to President Musharraf’s continuing role in further strengthening US-Pakistani relations,” the paper quoted White House spokesperson Dana Perino as saying.

She said Bush also “emphasised in his telephone call to Musharraf that ‘it’s important for all in authority in Pakistan to work with each other to benefit the Pakistani people.’ ”(ANI)