By Xinhua
Istanbul : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here Saturday that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to declare a state of emergency was “very regrettable”.
Rice, who is in Istanbul to attend an international conference on Iraq, made the comment in an interview with CNN.
Calling Musharraf’s move “a step backwards for democracy”, Rice hoped the country’s intention was to have free and fair elections.
Meanwhile, state department spokesman Sean McCormack also said in a statement that “the US is deeply disturbed by the reports that Pakistan President Musharraf has taken extra-constitutional actions and has imposed a state of emergency.”
Musharraf, as the chief of army staff, promulgated a provisional constitutional order (PCO) and declared a state of emergency Saturday.