Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that he would attend the Olympic torch relay ceremony to be held in Islamabad on April 16.

In an interview with Xinhua, Musharraf said he would take part in "the Olympic torch relay ceremony on April 16" when he returns back from a state visit to China from April 10 to 15.

The president said that Pakistan is making all efforts to guarantee the security of the torch relay ceremony and make sure that "nothing will happen".

The torch relay ceremony "will show our friendship and association of strong bonds with China during the ceremony," Musharraf said.

There were some disruptions by a few Tibetan separatists and their supporters during the London and Paris legs of the Olympic torch relay.

The Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, on March 24 and is being relayed through 21 cities outside the Chinese mainland before being carried into the opening ceremony on August 8.

Musharraf also refuted the boycotting of the Beijing Olympic Games, saying that the Games will be historic.

It would be unfortunate "if anyone is trying to boycott the Games, create misunderstanding, or do anything which undermines the Games", he added.

Musharraf said Pakistan would stand firm with China and contribute to removing any attempt to disrupt the Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)