In Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf has vowed to lift a state of emergency on December 16th. Musharraf made the pledge as he was sworn in to a new five-year presidential term, one day after stepping down as military chief. Under the emergency rule, Musharraf has purged the Supreme Court, arrested thousands of opponents and censored critical media. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif welcomed the announced date but said opposition would continue.

Nawaz Sharif: “Our struggle is for the restoration of democracy. Our struggle is for the restoration of the judiciary. Our struggle is for the release of all the prisoners. Our struggle is for a level playing field for everybody.”

Sharif and another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, are registered to run against Musharraf in January but say they may boycott the vote. Meanwhile, at the White House Press Secretary Dana Perino praised Musharraf for announcing a date to lift the emergency rule.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino: “We are not going to judge the date of lifting the emergency order. The President has said that it should be lifted as quickly as possible, as soon as possible. President Musharraf has indicated that December 16th would be the date, and we hope that he follows through on that.”