The United States has said that it supports free and fair elections in Pakistan and would like to see a moderate political force coming into power at the end of the democratic process, which will fight extremism in the country.

The subject of power sharing between President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto [Images] was a topic of discussion at the White House and the State Department briefings with both the spokesmen essentially making the same points but in different ways.

"What the United States wants to see is a peaceful, prosperous, secure, stable Pakistan -- that's in the interests of the Pakistanis, the interests of the region, and interests of the whole world. We want to see a moderate political centre form there, following democratic processes. I'd just leave it at that for now," White House Spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.

Asked whether White House urged Musharraf to work out some kind of political alliance with former premier Bhutto, he said President George W Bush had said last week that the US supported free and fair elections in Pakistan and met with various parties there.

"This is ultimately decisions for the people of Pakistan to make. We've met with the various parties; explained the US position, which is we are hopeful for free and fair elections, but also a system that follows democratic norms," Johndroe said. 

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack maintained that the administration was in touch with all political parties in Pakistan although this did not mean that Washington was in touch with every individual and every political party in the country.

"And it's part of our job to monitor what's going on in a country, get a pulse of the situation. We are encouraging those who are widely considered; political parties or individuals widely considered as forces for moderation or moderate -- political moderates in Pakistan to come together to support a moderate centre in Pakistani politics.

"That is a way to fight against extremist elements in Pakistan as a way to support the conduct of free and fair elections in Pakistan, and as a way to continue the process of political and economic reform that's important for Pakistan's future," McCormack said.

He said America believe that a more free, more democratic Pakistan will ultimately be a more stable Pakistan, and one that will continue to be a good ally in fighting the war on terror.

McCormack, however, did not comment on the possibility of ex-prime mMinisters Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto returning to Pakistan to contest the elections.

"I think that those are decisions for Pakistanis and those individuals to make," he said.

McCormack also said that it is up to Musharraf to decide on taking off the uniform.

"That's an issue that he said he is going to decide. And we will watch to see what happens. He's made certain commitments in public about that. It's something -- an issue that he is going to decide," he said.