Insisting that he was not a 'dictator', Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf [Images] has said that democracy would gradually take roots in Pakistan.

"I may be a military man, but I am not a dictator," he said in an interview to the French daily Le Figaro.

Musharraf, who stepped down as Army Chief in November 2007, said democracy was the path that needs to be followed and stressed that in Pakistan, it will gradually make its way, but at its own pace.

"The West cannot impose its way of thinking," he said, claiming that he did more in six years to advance democracy than his predecessors did in 50 years.

About his popularity, he acknowledged that it had dropped, but added, "I am not unpopular".

"I know very well what is the support that I have from the masses, the elite and the army. The day I think that I am genuinely unpopular, I will be the first to resign," he was quoted as saying by the official APP news agency.

About the war against terrorism, the president said it was not on behalf of the United States, but on behalf of Pakistan. "It is in the interest of Pakistan to root out terrorism and extremism. It is the wish of the people of Pakistan".

When asked about the threat by the US to condition their financial aid to Pakistan, Musharraf said over the past six years, the country has received a total of about $9 billion, of which more than half was received as part of the fight against terrorism.