Bush says Musharraf man of his word

WASHINGTON—US President George W. Bush has reaffirmed his confidence in President Pervez Musharraf as a steadfast ally in the fight against terrorism and welcoming the release of people detained under emergency law voiced the hope that the Pakistani leader would get his country back to democratic path.
In an interview with ABC Television aired Tuesday evening, the US president also felt “pretty comfortable” about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. “He has been a loyal ally in fighting terrorists, hehas also advanced democracy in Pakistan, he said he is going to take off his uniform. He said there will be elections. Today he released prisoners, so far I havefound him to be a man of his word,” Bush said of Musharraf, while citing his counterterrorism role and his efforts for development of democracy over the years.
The US President was expressing his views hours after Pakistan released more than 3000 activists detained since November 3 declaration of the state of emergency and the South Asian country’s formal announcement about holding parliamentary elections on January 8, 2008, developments that American officials welcomed earlier in the day.
As he spoke for the first time on Pakistan in a mediaappearance since Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte’s weekend meeting with President Musharrafin Islamabad, Bush acknowledged that PresidentMusharraf “has done more for democracy in Pakistan than any modern leader has” by introducing reforms. Responding to a question President Bush encouragedlifting the state of emergency before upcoming elections. At the same time, Bush noted “things are unfolding inPakistan” and hoped that President Musharraf would succeed in restoring democratic rule.—APP