WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House on Monday said it continues to support Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, as he resists pressures to step down after his allies were defeated in legislative elections a week ago.
US President George W. Bush "does support President Musharraf for all of the work that he's done to help us in counterterrorism," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.
"And if you look at what we asked President Musharraf to do, which is to take off the uniform, to set free and fair elections, and to lift the emergency order, he did all of those things," she added.
"And so now it will be up to the people of Pakistan to see what their new government will look like. But (Bush) does certainly support him and has continued to," Perino said.
Considered a key ally in the US-led war on terror, Musharraf on Monday endured more calls for his resignation, including from Nawaz Sharif, whose Muslim League-N formed a coalition with the Pakistan People's Party of slain ex-PM Benazir Bhutto last week, after their groupings ousted Musharraf's backers from government in the elections.
"Musharraf should quit as soon as possible. It would be better for him because the people have given their mandate," Sharif said Monday.
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