Lift Emergency for free, fair election: US to Gen

Persisting with its tough line, the US has asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end the Emergency rule...

Persisting with its tough line, the US has asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end the Emergency rule in the country 8220;as soon as possible8221; to allow free and fair elections after the General refused to set a timeframe for lifting the curbs.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concern that Musharraf has not set a time limit for restoring citizens8217; rights, as the General, who announced on Sunday that elections will be held by Janury 9, indicated that the polls may be held under Emergency rule. 8220;It8217;s not a perfect situation and nobody would suggest this it is,8221; Rice said. She, however, said it was a positive sign that Musharraf had set a time-frame for the parliamentary elections.

8220;Obviously, we are also encouraging that the state of Emergency should be lifted, and lifted as soon as possible,8221; she said in an interview to the ABC8217;s This Week programme.

8220;This is a country that8217;s going through extraordinarily difficult circumstances. But it is an ally, it is a friend,8221; she said, adding that the role of the US should be to persuade Pakistan to return to democracy and civilian rule.

When asked about the Congressional reaction, Rice said: 8220;It8217;s very easy to speculate and to make snap judgments in a difficult time like this.8221; If Musharraf 8220;carries through on his obligations that he has made to us and that he has made to his own people,8221; the road to democracy will be re-established, she added.

8220;But the key is to take this in steps. And the first step is to make certain that the state of emergency ends, to make sure that people can compete for free and fair elections for the parliament,8221; Rice said.

She said that terrorism and extremism has hurt Pakistani people more than it has hurt anyone else. 8220;Musharraf still has extremely important steps to take beyond the ones that he talked about. He needs to make sure these elections go forward. He needs to lift the Emergency,8221; Rice added.