ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: President Pervez Musharraf left for New York late Saturday night on a week-long visit to the United States and Canada.

He is also expected to meet chiefs of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

On Wednesday, the president will leave for Toronto on a two-day official visit to Canada. He will hold talks with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.—PPI

Masood Haider adds from United Nations: President Pervez Musharraf will have series of bilateral meetings with several heads of state and governments at the sidelines of UN General Assembly’s special session, which begins on Sept 23.

He will arrive in New York on Sunday, Sept 21 and meet US President George Bush, President of France Jacque Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the King of Morocco and presidents of Mexico and Indonesia during his stay here.

Besides addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Sept 24, the President would also address the Conference on Terrorism on Monday organized by Prime Minister of Norway in which French President Chirac, German Chancellor Schroeder, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and leaders of Islamic countries are expected to participate.