11-18-2007, 09:03 AM
<b>US: Emergency rule must end in Pakistan</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Washington's No. 2 diplomat delivered a blunt message to Pakistan's military ruler, telling him that emergency rule must be lifted and his opponents freed ahead of elections.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte's visit was seen as a last best chance to avoid political turmoil in Pakistan. <b>He met for more than two hours Saturday with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan's deputy army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.</b>
"I urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency and release all political detainees," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a news conference at the U.S. embassy Sunday at the end of his trip. "Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and credible elections."
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Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte's visit was seen as a last best chance to avoid political turmoil in Pakistan. <b>He met for more than two hours Saturday with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan's deputy army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.</b>
"I urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency and release all political detainees," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a news conference at the U.S. embassy Sunday at the end of his trip. "Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and credible elections."
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