Pakistan officials dispel 'coup' rumours as Asif Ali Zardari recovers from heart attack

Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, was being treated in Dubai for a suspected heart attack on Wednesday, as officials tried to head off fears of deepening political instability and dispel rumours of a "soft coup".

Asif Ali Zardari is threatening to sue the Jang Group, one of Pakistan's largest media houses, if it does not retract its story and issue an apology
Mr Zardari, 56, was described as being in a stable condition by his spokesman amid a flurry of claims that he was about to step down.

The claims were ignited by an unnamed former American official who said parts of the US government were informed that Zardari had a "minor heart attack" on Monday night and that he may resign on account of "ill health".

He was quoted by Foreign Policy magazine saying Mr Zardari had been "incoherent" during a phone conversation with Barack Obama at the weekend.

The claims have had a huge impact in Pakistan, a country awash with conspiracy theories and rumoured coup plots.

Mr Zardari has been under intense pressure since his ambassador to Washington resigned last month over a memo seeking US help to replace senior military figures. Opposition figures claim Mr Zardari was behind the plot to
wrest control away from a powerful military establishment which retains a tight grip on power.