Pakistani chief has medical tests in Texas

PARIS, Texas – Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf underwent routine testing with his doctor Saturday during an unannounced visit to this rural East Texas town.

Musharraf, whose surprise appearance came a day after visiting President Bush in Washington, was “found to be in excellent health,” according to a statement from Paris Regional Medical Center.

Pakistan Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani told the Associated Press on Saturday that Musharraf, 63, visited a friend in Texas who is a cardiologist and suggested he be examined.

“He went through that,” Durrani said. “All systems are go. Everything is fine. He is as fit as a horse.”

After leaving the hospital, Musharraf attended a private luncheon in the small town about 105 miles northeast of Dallas, the Paris News reported in Saturday’s online edition.

In a brief interview with the newspaper, Musharraf said his meeting with Bush was “extremely positive.” He would not discuss his interview planned to air today on “60 Minutes” in which he says the U.S. threatened soon after Sept. 11, 2001, to bomb his Muslim nation if it didn’t support the war on terror.

In the CBS interview, Musharraf said former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage warned a Pakistani official, “Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age,” if Pakistan didn’t support the U.S. cause. Armitage has said he never threatened to bomb Pakistan but that he delivered a tough message that it was either “with us or against us.”

The front parking lot and an underground lot for doctors at the Paris hospital were closed Friday, and Department of Public Safety troopers began closing some roads more than two hours before Musharraf’s arrival Saturday.

One of the main highways and several other roads were closed, Paris News Managing Editor Phil Hamilton said.