NEW YORK, Oct 2: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she believes former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has a role in a future political setup in Pakistan.

In an interview to the New York Post, Ms Rice also said that the United States is pressing President Gen Pervez Musharraf “very hard” to allow for free and fair elections.

Asked whether there was a place for former Pakistani premier and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in any new political mix, Ms Rice said: “Well, I don’t see why not.”

Reminded of corruption charges Ms Bhutto had faced previously, Ms Rice said: “There needs to be a contested parliamentary system, but whether or not she is able to overcome that and whether Pakistanis are willing to allow that is really up to them.”

She singled out parliamentary elections due early 2008 as a critical test of the Musharraf administration’s commitment to democratic principles.

Ms Rice said this weekend’s presidential election and the parliamentary elections due by January were “very important political events.” And the parliamentary elections, in particular, are going to be a real test of the willingness of the government to allow for free and fair elections.