LONDON, Jan 26 President Pervez Musharraf reassured MQM chief Altaf Hussain here on Saturday that coming elections would be fair, free, transparent and peaceful.

Mr Hussain called on the president at his hotel at around 12 noon and remained there for nearly two hours. He was accompanied by Imran Farooq and Mr Anwer. The president was aided by Gen Shafqat.

The president further assured Mr Hussain that the government would be handed over to the majority party and if there was a hung parliament then a coalition government would be formed.

He said the future prime minister would be the chief executive of the country.

Mr Hussain also raised the issue of massive losses suffered by the people in Sindh due to violence following Ms Bhutto's assassination and asked the president to arrange compensation for those who lost property.

The president assured Mr Hussain that he had already ordered the setting up of a commission and directed it to process the matter at the earliest.

According to informed sources the two leaders also discussed post-election cooperation as well.

The president was earlier scheduled to go to Cambridge University, but the visit was cancelled and a meeting with Mr Hussain was arranged in its place.

Earlier at around noon, the lawyers' community in the UK held a two-hour-long protest demonstration in front of the 10 Downing Street against Mr Musharraf's visit to the UK and his alleged high-handedness against Pakistan bar and bench.

The demonstrators raised slogans for the release of deposed Chief Justice Iftikahr Chaudhry and President of Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan.