ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday his party would boycott a Jan. 8 general election because of the assassination of another opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto.

"The PML (N) is boycotting the election after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto," Sharif told a news conference in Islamabad, referring to his party.

"Free elections are not possible in the presence of Musharraf," he said referring to President Pervez Musharraf. "Musharraf is the root cause of all problems."

Old rivals Bhutto, also a former prime minister, and Sharif had recently cooperated in their opposition to Musharraf.

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