By DPA
Jerusalem : US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice Sunday urged a “prompt return to a constitutional course” in Pakistan and for all parties to show restraint, after President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution Saturday.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem, Rice added that it would be “in the best interest of Pakistan and the best interest of the Pakistani people for there to be an affirmation that elections will be held for a new parliament.”
“The US does not support and communicated to the Pakistani leadership prior to this action that it would not support extra-constitutional means,” Rice said.
Musharraf declared a state of emergency in his capacity as military chief. Fundamental rights were also suspended by the decree.
The Pakistani leader, a key US ally in the fight against Muslim militant terrorism, won overwhelmingly in a controversial presidential vote Oct 6.
But the results were withheld until the final verdict on the orders of the Supreme Court, where his eligibility was challenged by rival candidates on the grounds that the constitution did not allow a serving military officer to run for president.