Bush says will take Musharraf at his word

By Tabassum Zakaria and Simon Gardner

CRAWFORD/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Saturday he was taking Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf at his word that elections would be held early next year, but he also emphasized that Washington needed Pakistan's cooperation in fighting al Qaeda.

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto described Pakistan as a pressure cooker about to explode, while Musharraf's government tightened screws on media by ordering out three British journalists.

Musharraf has sacked most of the country's judges, put senior ones under house arrest, and ordered police to round up most of the opposition leadership and anyone else deemed troublesome.

He has also placed curbs on media. Private news channels are off the air and transmissions of BBC and CNN have been blocked, though newspapers are publishing freely.

While calling for Pakistan to return to a path of democracy after Musharraf invoked emergency powers a week ago and suspended the constitution, Bush made clear the United States needed the cooperation that Pakistan has provided in hunting for al Qaeda members since the September 11 attacks.

'COMMON GOAL'

Bush, in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Texas ranch, stressed the dangers of al Qaeda as much as the need for Pakistan to return to a path of democracy.

"We do share a common goal, and that is to eradicate al Qaeda," Bush said. "I vowed to the American people we'd keep the pressure on them (al Qaeda). I fully understand we need cooperation to do so, and one country that we need cooperation from is Pakistan."

Bush, who spoke with Musharraf earlier this week, said they had not spoken since, "but he knows my position."

Bush praised Musharraf for helping the United States hunt for al Qaeda after September 11 and pointed out that the Pakistani leader had taken "positive steps" by saying he would hold elections early next year and give up his military position.

"I take a person for his word until otherwise. I think that's what you have to do," Bush said. "When somebody says this is what they're going to do, then you give them a chance to do it."

Stephen Hadley, White House national security adviser, said that at critical moments, especially after September 11, when Musharraf had made decisions, he had honored his promises.

"He has been true to his word, so there is a track record we have with this man," Hadley said.

U.S. forces have been hunting for al Qaeda members in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

Bush said both Musharraf and Bhutto understood the dangers of al Qaeda. "I believe that we will continue to have good collaboration with the leadership in Pakistan," he said.