WASHINGTON, March 12: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested on Friday she would not pressure Pakistan?s leader to give up his army post on a visit next week as Washington balances its push to spread democracy with its need to support anti-terrorism allies.

Asked twice in a Reuters interview if she would urge President Gen Pervez Musharraf to abandon the top army post, which he has held on to despite a pledge to give it up, Ms Rice said only that she would press for democratic progress.

The top US diplomat praised the general for helping foster stability over the last few years in a nuclear-armed country with many Al Qaeda supporters.

?I will certainly, as the president has done in his discussions, urge that democratic process in Pakistan be advanced,? she said. ?It?s awfully important, though, to look at what has happened in Pakistan in three-plus years.?

Ms Rice?s visit to Pakistan as part of a trip to Asia next week tests how far President George W. Bush will go to back up his pledge to make forging democracy a more central element of bilateral relations in his second term.

A US official said she would focus during the visit on supporting Musharraf for his anti-Al Qaeda stance rather than criticizing him over democracy.

Listing Musharraf?s efforts to reduce extremist teachings in religious schools, fight Al Qaeda and make peace overtures with India, Ms Rice said: ?You have to say that they?ve achieved a lot over the last three years.??Reuters