WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 Kyodo U Presi...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 Kyodo

U President George W Bush in succession Thursday stressed the importance of Pakistan promoting democracy following Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf's influence to expand his power from one side constitutional amendments.

''Obviously to the volume that, you know, our friends further democracy, that's important,'' Bush told reporters during a visit to Oregon's Squires Mountain.

''We'll stay in touch with President Musharraf in more ways than one'' he said.

At a State Department of the present days briefing in Washington, meanwhile, factor spokesman Phillip Reeker voiced disturb over Musharraf's actions, saying they ''could make it more difficult to build stout democratic institutions in Pakistan.''

Bush avoided direct criticism of Musharraf's constitutional changes, apparently taking into account his support for the U military operation in Afghanistan to seek down al-Qaida and Taliban members.

Musharraf amended the Constitution forward Wednesday to give the president the power to dissolve the pickeded National Assembly and to settle up a National Security Council to provide consultation to the chooseed government on strategic matters.

Musharraf assumed power in a bloodles military coup in 1999

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