WASHINGTON, Dec 20: The US State Department on Monday described President Pervez Musharraf's decision not to step down as Chief of the Army Staff as a "lack of move" towards democracy.

But when reminded of a recent statement by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto that she expected a stronger reaction from the United States, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We write our own statements."

Although supporting the demand for elections in Pakistan, the State Department official indirectly endorsed the Musharraf government's plan for holding elections in 2007, and not before, as demanded by the opposition.

"We intend to continue to support the electoral process, which is currently scheduled to culminate in national elections in 2007," the spokesman said. The United States, he said, would like to see an election that meets international standards and includes the full participation of all political parties. "So that's the goal that we'll continue to work towards."