The United States welcomed on Wednesday Pakistani President Musharraf's decision to step down as a military chief.
"This is a good first step," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during an interview with ABC television after 64 year-old Musharraf quit as the country's military leader to be sworn in as a civilian president.
However, Rice urged Pakistan to end the emergency rule starting Nov. 3 and hold "free and fair election," so the country can "stay and return to a democratic path."
In another interview with NBC television, Rice said that Washington had been in contact with Musharraf, urging him to ensure a credible parliamentary elections on Jan. 8.
"Free and fair elections need to take place," she said. "Look, we are talking with the Pakistanis about this. I'm not going to talk about the details of those conversations."
Earlier in the day, White House spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman also applauded for Musharraf's move that "was an important move" but he noted that U.S. government would "continue to encourage the Pakistani government to lift the emergency order and to get back on the path to democracy."
The general who has been serving in military for 46 years stepped down from his post of army chief on Wednesday and handed over the command to the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
"Leaving the army is like leaving family for me," he said.
Musharraf was born in 1943 and was admitted to the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961. He became an artillery officer in 1965 and was soon awarded a medal of bravery for fighting against India.
Musharraf overcame relatively humble roots to rise through the ranks, promoted to major general in 1991 and chief of army staff in 1998.
He came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and attained presidency in 2001, which was later sanctified in a 2002 referendum.
Re-elected in the Oct. 6 presidential poll with a majority and due to be sworn in for a five-year term on Nov. 29, Musharraf had pledged to shed his army uniform and take oath as a civilian president.
Source: Xinhua
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