Musharraf, Sworn In, Will Lift Emergency by Dec. 16th

Hours after he was sworn in for a second term as president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf  said in a televised address to the nation that he will lift emergency rule by Dec. 16. Wearing the dark tunic he donned for his swearing-in as a civilian, he declared that emergency rule had "saved the nation" and urged all parties to take part in elections Jan. 8.

By ending the emergency and stepping down from the army, Musharraf will be meeting President Bush's two conditions for continued support. But in his inauguration speech he cautioned the West against trying to impose its concept of democracy. "We want democracy. We want human rights. We want civil liberties. But we will do it our way as we understand our society, our environment better than anyone in the West,” he said. (More Pervez Musharraf stories.)