Pakistan envoy to Washington resigns

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's envoy to Washington lost a battle with the country's powerful generals to keep his job yesterday over allegations he wrote a memo seeking U.S. help in stopping a supposed coup in the aftermath of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The resignation of Hussain Haqqani highlighted tensions between the country's nominal civilian government and the army, which has ruled Pakistan for most of its history.

Haqqani, a key ally of President Asif Ali Zardari, was well regarded in Washington, where many lawmakers view Pakistan with suspicion, if not hostility.

Although Haqqani said he hoped his stepping down would end the scandal, which Pakistanis have called "memogate," speculation remained over whether it could yet engulf Zardari. The unpopular leader has faced questions over whether he also knew about the mysterious memo, which right-wing, media outlets have described as treasonous.

Haqqani said he stood by earlier denials he had nothing to do with the letter, which was sent soon after the bin Laden raid to then-U.S. military chief Adm. Mike Mullen. The envoy and his supporters have alleged the memo was a hoax cooked up by the military establishment to get rid of him and weaken the Zardari government and democratic institutions -- explosive charges in a country that has seen at least three military coups. -- AP