Pakistani bomb disposal experts defused two ready-to-fire rockets apparently aimed at President Musharraf hours after an explosion near his home.

The Russian made rockets were fixed to launchers and wired to a mobile phone, a likely remote triggering device. They were hidden in bushes at a construction site a third of a mile from parliament and the presidential office in Islamabad’s high security zone.

The missiles were defused just before General Musharraf addressed a conference commemorating the first anniversary of last year’s earthquake at a nearby convention hall.

Pakistan was already on high alert after rumours of a coup swept the country when General Musharraf was out of the country last month and security around him has been visibly heightened.

He arrived at tonight’s event by helicopter after three heavily guarded but empty motorcades had swept up as decoys. He entered the hall surrounded by half dozen army commandos.

Late last night security forces scrambled to an explosion at a park near the Army House in Rawalpindi, which is General Musharraf’s official residence.

The blast was reportedly caused by a rocket fire. Major General Shaukat Sultan, the chief military spokesman said some explosive material was found at the site.

The rockets which were pointed towards General Musharraf’s office at the Presidency, were first spotted by workers at the construction site. The area was cordoned off by the police and army troops. Police detained more than 80 people, most of them the labourers at the site, for questioning.

The President did not refer to either incident in his speech.

The two incidents have sparked fears about the President who had survived a series of assassination attempts over the last five years since he aligned himself with the United States in the War on Terror.

He narrowly escaped when on December 25, 2003 two suicide bombers rammed their explosive-laden vehicles into his motorcade near his residence in Rawalpindi’s high security army headquarters.

Several of his security guards were killed in the attack, masterminded by Faraj Al libi, a top al-Qaeda leader who was captured last year. Some junior ranking military personnel were also involved in the plot and were later sentenced to death by a military court.

In another attack, suspected Islamic militants blew up a bridge as General Musharraf’s motorcade passed but the President was saved when electronic jamming equipment in his car delayed the blast.

It is not clear who could be behind today's failed attempt, although General Musharraf is not short of enemies. Security officials said the fact that the 107mm (4.28 inch) calibre rockets were made in Russia indicated they had come via Afghanistan.

The main suspects were al-Qaeda backed Islamic extremists who opposed his pro-American policies and were also responsible for previous attempts on his life.

General Musharraf’s position has become increasing tenuous as he walks a thin line between his support for the US and his military’s continuing links with the Islamists. The President has also earned the ire of Baluch nationalists after the army killed a powerful tribal chief leading the insurgency in the Western Baluchistan province.

Akbar Khan Bugti, aged 79 , was killed in July during a raid on his hideout. His supporters have vowed to take the revenge.

The President’s efforts to perpetuate his rule and simultaneously hold the post of president and head of the army have generated political uncertainty in the country. Last month a countrywide power break down during his visit to the United sparked a widespread rumour of an army coup.

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