Musharraf Expects Elections by Jan. 9

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan _ Pakistan's military ruler said Sunday that parliamentary elections should be held on schedule, but that a state of emergency would stay in place to ensure that the polls were free and transparent.

"We should have elections before the 9th of January," President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said at a press conference, refusing to set a timeline for lifting emergency rule.

"Certainly the emergency is required to ensure peace in Pakistan, to ensure an environment conducive to elections," he said, also noting, "The emergency contributes toward better law and order and a better fight against terrorism."

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