UN's Ban says encouraged by Pakistan poll conduct

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes Pakistan's generally peaceful elections and promise of key players to respect democratic processes, U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said on Tuesday.

"He (Ban) commends the people of Pakistan for the largely peaceful conduct of yesterday's parliamentary elections and is encouraged by the commitment of all concerned to respect the democratic process," Okabe told reporters.

Voters in Pakistan on Monday rejected the former ruling party of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, raising doubts whether the U.S. ally who has ruled since 1999 can keep power.

The Pakistan People's Party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto emerged as the largest party in the country's 342-seat National Assembly but it does not have a majority and will need to seek coalition partners.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Sandra Maler)