ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: President Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday he will not nominate any successor to take over should an assassin take his life, and Pakistan's next leader would be chosen by its people and the National Assembly.

Gen Musharraf, who has survived two Al Qaeda inspired assassination attempts, decided in December to retain his position as chief of army staff in order to oversee a war on terrorism and steer Pakistan toward peace with India.

"I'm an optimist, as I said, and I don't think very much of such extreme possibilities, but I do know there is a political process in place," the president replied when asked by Reuters Video News who would run the country should an assassin succeed.

"There is no monarchy going on here, I don't have to nominate an heir. The people of Pakistan, the Assembly of Pakistan will select a person who would lead if I am not there," Gen Musharraf said, speaking via a satellite link between Islamabad and London.

Under the constitution the chairman of the senate would become acting president until a longer term successor was chosen. The president infuriated hardline Pakistani Islamist groups allied to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda by siding with the United States in a global war on terror after the Sept 11, 2001, Attacks.

The president has made it his mission to defeat forces of religious extremism in the country and coined the term "enlightened moderation" as his philosophy for Pakistan. But, critics say the president, who was installed after a popular, bloodless coup ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in late 1999, has failed to rebuild Pakistan's democratic institutions.

Asked in the interview if he would consider working with Ms Bhutto in order to garner support for his progressive polices, Gen Musharraf said all moderate forces should join together before adding: "Let's leave personalities aside." -Reuters