Islamabad, Aug. 18 : Following is the text of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf address to the nation and his announcement that he was resigning from office.

"Today is a day of an important decision for me." Proceedings began with recitation from the Holy Quran at 13.10 pm. President Pervez Musharraf said the nation is aware of the crisis it is going through."

Islamabad, Aug 18 : In a style that could have beaten Hitchcock at his best in terms of suspense, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today announced his resignation from Presidency in his Address to the Nation, saying that his resignation would be soon submitted to the National Assembly Speaker.

He said he was stepping down because he didn''t want to drag the office of President of Pakistan to the process of Impeachment. "Even if the impeachment process against me is defeated, the Office of President would be demeaned and it won''t give a right message", he said with moist eyes.

Islamabad, Aug 18 : After the US refused to offer Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf an asylum after being ousted, or stepping down, the Presidential camp in Rawalpindi got another setback when Saudi Arabia also refused to extend him a long stay in Jeddah’s Al-Saroor Palace.

This is the same palace where former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif spent seven years after being thrown out by Musharraf in a military coup in October 1999.

Islamabad, Aug 18: Amid speculations that he might step down and fly to a different country to spend his retired life, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is today scheduled to address his countrymen at 1.00 p. m.

Sources close to him said that the President could announce his resignation in today’s address to the nation.

“President Musharraf has made up his mind to resign before the impeachment motion is tabled in the assembly,” The News quoted the sources as saying.

Islamabad, Aug 18 : Though speculations are rife in Islamabad that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf might leave his home country to lead a retired life abroad, the architect of his new abode “1-A Park Road” situated on the outer-skirts of Islamabad, has revealed that the house would be ready-to-shift in the next six months.

Islamabad - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf would make a public appearance Monday afternoon on state television, a spokesman for the embattled leader said amid reports that he might announce his resignation.

"The president will address the nation at 1 pm" (0700 GMT), Rashid Qureshi said without elaborating.

Several media reports said Monday that Musharraf, a retired army general who took over in a bloodless coup almost nine years ago, had made up his mind to quit. They cited presidential advisers.