Washington: The United States has welcomed the release of opposition members and activists in Pakistan, but said it is just "one step" towards restoring democracy in that country.

"I do see that a number of figures, opposition figures, have been released. But that's a good step. But it's only one step of what's needed," the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday.

The Pakistan government on Tuesday announced the release of over 3,400 political detainees including lawyers, who were arrested after the imposition of emergency on November 3.

The US is "looking for the lifting of the state of emergency so that elections can be held in a free and open atmosphere," she said. Stressing that US favoured a dialogue between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and other parties, Rice said: "We obviously believe that moderate forces ought to try to come together to present a unified front against extremism, because extremism is a problem in Pakistan.

"We can't deny that there are violent people. Some of them acted when Benazir Bhutto returned. Some of them have acted several times to try to kill Musharraf," Rice said.

On deputy John Negroponte's visit to Pakistan, Rice said, "He went out to talk about how important it was for Pakistan -- which really has been on a road, and not perfect road, to democratic development, freeing of the press, the development of civil society, economic reform -- to get back on that road.

"And look, a lot of that is done by (Pervez) Musharraf himself. And so for him at this point to help put his country back on the road to democratic reform is important. We are looking for him to take off his uniform," Rice said.

Through Anne Patterson, US ambassador to Islamabad, the United States was trying to use its influence to get Pakistan back on a road to democracy, she added.

Source : PTI