WASHINGTON, Nov 7: The US State Department has backed former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s call for mass protests against the emergency rule, saying that people should have the right to express themselves.

Commenting on Ms Bhutto’s call for street protests, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: “There should be a right for people to express themselves.” He rejected concerns that Ms Bhutto’s call would spark further violence. “I don’t think anybody should look at actions and say that they are going to inevitably lead to violence,” he said. “People have a choice. People have a choice in what they do and have a choice in how they react.”

“We’ve preached the idea to all parties of calm during this particularly turbulent period in Pakistan’s political system,” Mr McCormack said. “I don’t think anybody wants to see outbreak of violence. What we want to see is a peaceful return to constitutional democratic rule,” he told reporters.

“Our counsel to all parties has been to maintain that atmosphere of calm... and focus on those actions that take Pakistan back to democratic rule,” the spokesman said.