In a news conference held early Sunday in Islamabad US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte urged President General Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency rule in Pakistan before parliamentary polls and resume talks with moderate political forces to help end the turmoil in the nuclear-armed country.

"Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and credible elections," Negroponte said.

Negroponte, who arrived in Pakistan Friday, had a two hour meeting with Musharraf on Saturday calling upon him to also resign his post as chief of the army before starting a second term as president. “We urge him to do so as soon as possible,” he told reporters.

Negroponte warned that "recent police actions against protesters, suppression of the media, and arrests of political and human rights leaders" could undermine Pakistan's transition to a moderate and democratic nation.

Negropont, the US’ highest ranking diplomat to visit Pakistan after Musharraf imposed the emergency rule on November 3, said he urges  the government of Pakistan to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency, and release all political detainees,"

"If these steps aren't taken, it will undermine the government's ability to conduct satisfactory elections”, Negroponte said.

Under mounting international and domestic pressure, Musharraf has pledged to hold the vote on time but says the emergency measures will remain in place.

Despite signs of growing tension between Washington and its key counter-terrorism ally in the region, Negroponte said the US values its partnership with Pakistan under Musharraf, an army general who seized power in a 1999 coup.

"President Musharraf has been and continues to be a strong voice against extremism," said the diplomat, who also met with senior government, army and intelligence officials and talked with Bhutto by telephone.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said there was no change to the leadership's position despite the US pressure.

"Our response remains that the emergency was imposed in extreme conditions and that we expect our friends to understand the gravity of the situation," Sadiq said.

But Negroponte said during his news conference it would take time to determine whether the U.S. message had an impact.

"In diplomacy, as you know, we don't get instant replies," he said. "I'm sure the president is seriously considering the exchange we had”