Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced Monday that he will resign in order to avoid a bitter impeachment process over his imposition of authoritarian rule.

"I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes," an emotional and defiant Musharraf, a U.S. ally in the War on Terror, said in a televised address, much of which was devoted to defending his record and refuting criticisms.

Musharraf, The Washington Post reports, said his political opponents had opted for the politics of confrontation over reconciliation.

"I am leaving with the satisfaction that whatever I could do for this country I did it with integrity," Musharraf said. "I am a human too. I could have made mistakes but I believe that the people will forgive me."

Musharraf, who has been in power since 1999 after a military coup, has seen his popularity at home sink over the years, and his influence has waned since he stepped down as army chief last year. He came under fire in 2007 when he ousted dozens of judges and imposed emergency rule. His rivals won February parliamentary elections and have since sought his ouster. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday the Pakistani president’s future "is a matter for Pakistan to determine."

The Associated Press reports that officials in Washington and Europe hope his removal will let the civilian government focus on terrorism and the country’s economic woes.