WASHINGTON, Nov 28: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday hailed Gen Pervez Musharraf for taking “a good first step” towards restoring democracy to Pakistan by quitting the army.

“Let me say first that this is a good step, a good first step in President Musharraf carrying out his obligation, indeed his promise, to take off his uniform,” said Ms Rice in an interview to NBC television. But “we do continue to expect that Pakistan needs to end the state of emergency” because free and fair elections cannot be held under an emergency rule, she added.

Asked if Gen Musharraf has assured her he will end the emergency rule, Ms Rice said: “Look, we are talking with the Pakistanis about this. I’m not going to talk about the details of those conversations.” She, however, emphasised that it was “extremely important” to get Pakistan back on a road to democracy.

Earlier, in an interview to an American news agency hours before Gen Musharraf quit as army chief, President George W. Bush also hailed the general as a leader he trusted.

“He ought to lift the emergency law as well,” Mr Bush said. “It’s hard for me to envision a free and fair election under emergency law.”

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed Gen Musharraf’s resignation as army chief on Wednesday as an “important part of the process” towards restoring democracy.