N-weapons could fall into wrong hands: Musharraf

Musharraf said that if elections were held in a 'disturbed environment', it might pose a risk to Pakistan's nuke weapons.

President Pervez Musharraf, defending his decision to declare Emergency rule, has said Pakistan8217;s nuclear weapons could fall into the wrong hands if elections led to disturbances.

The comments, in a BBC interview broadcast on Saturday, come as US envoy John Negroponte visited Pakistan to put pressure on Musharraf to revoke the two-week-old Emergency, make peace with Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and hold fair elections.

Musharraf said that if elections were held in a 8216;disturbed environment8217;, it could bring in dangerous elements who might pose a risk to control of Pakistan8217;s nuclear weapons.

8220;They cannot fall into the wrong hands, if we manage ourselves politically. The military is there 8212; as long as the military is there, nothing happens to the strategic assets, we are in charge and nobody does anything with them,8221; he said.

Musharraf, who took power in a coup eight years ago, cited rising militancy and a hostile judiciary as reasons for declaring Emergency rule. He has said a general election will be held before Jan. 9 and he expects to step down as army chief and be sworn in as a civilian President beforehand.

In the interview conducted on Friday, Musharraf dismissed Opposition leader Bhutto8217;s chances of winning elections.

He blamed Bhutto, who has called for him to relinquish power, for ruining chances of a deal which would see her serving as Prime Minister under his Presidency.

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8220;She disturbed the entire environment. She comes on a total confrontationalist approach,8221; Musharraf said of Bhutto, who returned from eight years of self exile last month to lead her Pakistan People8217;s Party in elections.

Bhutto, who was freed after three days of house arrest shortly before Negroponte8217;s arrival, has said she does not trust Musharraf to allow her party a clear run and wants the Election Commissioner replaced.

But Musharraf, who referred to Bhutto as 8216;the darling of the West8217;, said it was the Opposition and judges who had been interfering with the democratic process.

8220;It is she actually who may not be wanting elections in Pakistan and it is she who may want to go on to the agitational mode because her party is not in a state to win at all,8221; he said.

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8220;Therefore I will certainly go for the election despite of any agitation by her.8221;

He promised that political opponents would be released from house arrest 8216;in a few days8217; but said he was considering all options regarding holding elections under Emergency rule.