The general pardon was supposed to encourage guerrillas to reintegrate peacefully in Macedonian society by releasing them from fear of arrest or persecution for fighting the state.

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Last year, Egypt's interim government released him along with scores of other political prisoners after a general pardon was issued by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which ruled the country after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

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On only one point has Mr Wahid been consistent: that he will grant the general a pardon if he is convicted.

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They would probably both make a deal with General Musharraf, accepting him as president, in return for a legal pardon and the dropping of any outstanding charges against them.

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The former president also said respected Republican lawyers had advocated the pardon, and that he understood the position of the Deputy Attorney General to be "neutral, leaning for".

BBC: Former US President Bill Clinton