Pervez Musharraf yesterday promised the "mother of all elections" when Pakistan goes to the polls on Monday. The president of the troubled south Asian country rejected accusations of pre-poll rigging and warned opposition parties against succumbing to the temptation of street protests.

"Politicians should not be under any illusion that they can bring people to the streets after the elections. Nothing of the sort will be allowed," Mr Musharraf told a conference of government officials in Islamabad. "In this situation of extremism and terrorism, no agitation, anarchy or chaos can be acceptable."