State of Emergency

From diplomatically phrased expressions of regret from key allies in the worldwide fight against al Qaeda, to fiery denunciations from his political rivals at home, the reaction to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's latest move was uniformly negative across the globe.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana expressed concerns Sunday about the state of emergency in Pakistan, stressing that abandoning the democratic process is not the way to fight terrorism.

"I am concerned by the declaration of a state of emergency in Pakistan. I recognize the difficulties Pakistan is currently facing in its domestic political and security situation," Solana said in a statement. "However, I believe that any deviation from the general democratic process cannot be a solution."

He added: "Specifically, I urge the authorities in Pakistan to continue the preparations for the holding of general elections as scheduled."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier voiced Sunday "deep concern" at the state of emergency.

"I hope for a return as quickly as possible to constitutional order," he said in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin.

"Civilian government, respect for the principle of the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media are of major importance to us."

Suspending the constitution

In a televised address to the nation, Musharraf said he had imposed an emergency because terrorism in Pakistan was at its peak while the government was in "semi-paralysis" through the behavior of the Supreme Court.

"The situation had been changing very fast. Terrorism and extremism are at their extreme," Musharraf said, citing a number of recent blasts including one in Karachi that killed 139 people.

Musharraf, 64, imposed the state of emergency in his capacity as army chief, suspending the constitution for the second time since he took over in a bloodless coup in 1999.

The move was apparently aimed at preventing a defiant judiciary from ruling against his re-election in last month's controversial presidential vote. He won overwhelmingly, but was challenged on the grounds that the constitution prohibits serving military officers from contesting elections.

Europe, US reject move

In Britain, Foreign Secretary David Miliband stressed the need for Pakistan to harness "the power of democracy and the rule of law to achieve the goals of stability, development and countering terrorism."

"I am gravely concerned by the measures adopted today, which will take Pakistan further from these goals," said Miliband in a statement.

In Paris, the ministry for foreign and European affairs voiced French "concern" at Musharraf's decision, urging him to "maintain the rule of law." France "wants dialogue between all Pakistani political forces to guarantee stability and democracy in this great country which is a partner and a friend," the ministry said in a statement.

"This action is very disappointing," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe in a statement.

"President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as chief of army staff before retaking the presidential oath of office," he said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "Whatever happens, we will be urging for a quick return to a constitutional order, we will be urging that the commitment to hold free and fair elections be kept and we would be urging calm among the parties."

But a Pentagon spokesman said Washington at this point had no plans to suspend military aid to Pakistan.

Closer to home

Reaction was more muted in India, Pakistan's neighbour and nuclear rival, with the country's foreign ministry merely expressing its "regrets" at Musharraf's move.

"We wish them stability and we look forward to conditions which will facilitate conditions for democracy to be restored in that country," said India's junior foreign minister Anand Sharma.

But political parties allied to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh's Congress-party ruling coalition reacted sharply, and the main opposition BJP party prodded New Delhi to react strongly to the developments.

"Musharraf has shown his true colors as a military dictator and this imposition of emergency will not only have an impact in Pakistan but also in the entire South Asia region," BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy warned.

Musharraf's political rivals were similarly unsparing in their criticism. Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto told Britain's Sky News television that the country was regressing towards greater dictatorship under Musharraf.