MESSAGE BOARD NEWSLINKS US EDITION COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington that the US was 'very concerned and disappointed' after Musharraf declared himself president and dissolved the national and provincial assemblies.
He said Musharraf's action 'severely undermines Pakistan's democratic order'.
Britain and the Commonwealth termed the development as 'unfortunate' and a 'setback' to democracy.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who had only last week emphasised the need for restoration of democracy during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar, said "I was deeply concerned to hear that Gen Musharraf has dissolved suspended assemblies and assumed the presidency."
"There is bound to be widespread anxiety that this represents a setback in the transition to elected democracy. It is all the more important now for Pakistan to proceed quickly with multi-party national and provincial elections within a clear constitutional framework," Straw said in a statement.
Stating that he had underlined the importance of early elections during his talks with Sattar, Straw said "We will continue to take all opportunities to emphasis this point to the Pakistani authorities."
Expressing disappointment over Musharraf's decision, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said, "I consider these steps to be unfortunate."
"Foreign Minister Sattar's discussions with me last week implied that the Musharraf regime would be moving towards the restoration of democracy. What we have seen instead are steps in the wrong direction that signal the further consolidation of military rule in Pakistan," he said.
The Commonwealth has been urging Pakistan to restore democracy as soon as possible. Today's developments will undoubtedly influence Commonwealth leaders when they consider the situation in Pakistan at Brisbane next October, the McKinnon said.
Pakistan was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth following the overthrow of its democratically elected government by Gen Musharraf on October 12, 1999.
RELATED REPORT I was removed, says Rafiq Tarar: PTI
Tell us what you think of this report
