US Praises Pakistan's Elections as 'Relatively Free'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 12, 2002

US Praises Pakistan's Elections as 'Relatively Free'

The Bush administration Friday praised the election in Pakistan on Thursday as "relatively free and orderly," and played down electoral gains by Islamic fundamental groups.

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The Bush administration Friday praised the election in Pakistan on Thursday as "relatively free and orderly," and played down electoral gains by Islamic fundamental groups.

"The initial impressions from the observers indicate that the voting day proceeded in a relatively free and orderly fashion despite the concerns they had expressed about the pre-election environment," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The United States "would accept this result as a credible representation of the range of opinion in Pakistan if these initial impressions are borne out," he told reporters at a regularpress briefing.

"We think the Pakistani people and the government have already demonstrated their strong opposition to terrorism and extremism, their desire to move their society in a more moderate and stable direction," Boucher said.

"We have said we welcome that," he said. "We look forward to working with them on that. And we hope that all parties will be committed to moving in that direction."

Pakistan's federal parliamentary elections saw no majority party so far on Friday, with 211 of the 272 general seats in the National Assembly decided.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) (QA) is now holding the leading position with 59 seats in hands, but might have to form a coalition government with other parties.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which is biting the back of the PML (QA) with 45 seats, also could get the chance to form a coalition government with potential partners.

Mutahita Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of religious parties, made a surprisingly strong performance, clinching 45 seats in the National Assembly.

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