Pakistan's Ministry of Defense issued an official notification on Wednesday, confirming the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf as army chief.

The notification said, "On relinquishment of Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf shall stand retired with effect from Nov. 28, 2007."

At a "change of command" ceremony held at the Army Hockey Stadium near the General Headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, Musharraf handed over the command of army to the Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

Musharraf started his military career in 1961 at the age of 18. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff, also called army chief, in 1998. Musharraf is the second longest-serving army chief after General Zia-ul-Haq, who led the army for more than 12 years.

Musharraf seized power through a bloodless coup in 1999, toppling then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He became President of Pakistan in 2001.

Musharraf gained a clear majority in the presidential polls on Oct. 6. He will take oath as civilian president here on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)