Canada OK with slight delay in Pakistani election

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will not oppose a small delay in holding elections in Pakistan as long as it leads to a fair vote in the near future, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Monday.

"We understand there may be some delay in holding elections. I think that's justifiable as long as it's delay to ensure a fairer process, as long as it's not delay leading to suspension," he told a news conference in Mississauga, Ontario.

"There's obviously some reasons for delays but the democratic process must go ahead, just the same, in a timely manner."

Pakistani electoral officials will decide on Tuesday whether to proceed with an election on January 8, but expectations are that it would be delayed by up to two months in light of Benazir Bhutto's assassination and the ensuing violence.

Bhutto's party says it does not want the election postponed because a delay would help its political opponents.

(Reporting by Randall Palmer; Editing by Ka Yan Ng)

((randall.palmer@reuters.com; +1-613-235-6745; Reuters Messaging: randall.palmer.reuters.com@reuters.net)