Obama, McCain back Musharraf resignation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama said Monday that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was right to resign.

Musharraf, who is an ally of the Bush administration, resigned Monday under the threat of impeachment.

The Hill reported McCain and Obama said Musharraf's resignation could advance the U.S. hunt for terror suspects in Pakistan.

"I have long said that the central terrorist threat to the United States lies in northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan, and not Iraq," Obama, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, said in a statement. "U.S. policy must focus on assuring that all elements of Pakistan's government are resolute in shutting down the safe havens for al-Qaida and the Taliban. There can be no safe haven for terrorists who threaten the American people."

In a statement, McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, called Pakistan a "critical theater in countering the threat of al Qaida and violent Islamic extremism."

The Arizona senator added: "I look forward to the government increasing its future cooperation."