ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik was on Friday forced to dismiss rumours that a coup could overthrow the government, saying that unnamed “people” would foil any attempt to dislodge the president.

Malik spoke to reporters outside parliament amid a frenzy of speculation over the health of President Asif Ali Zardari, who has been in a Dubai hospital for three days with a heart condition.

“We understand that the people have given us a mandate for five years through elections and votes, and if someone tried to do something to the government, people would foil such attempts,” Malik said.

“The situation is not as complex as you are viewing it,” he said in response to a journalist who said the crisis facing the government was serious.