Amidst stepped up US efforts to persuade the military ruler to restore democracy, Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State who is the highest-ranking American official to visit Pakistan since imposition of Emergency on November 3, met the military ruler and Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, who is to replace Musharraf as Army Chief once he doffs uniform.

Negroponte, who spoke on phone with former Premier Benazir Bhutto shortly after his arrival in Islamabad on Friday, discussed the ‘political situation’ with Musharraf, state-run PTV reported.

"The US Deputy Secretary of State and President Pervez Musharraf discussed important bilateral, regional and international affairs," PTV reported without giving details.

However, western diplomatic sources said the top US diplomat delivered a ‘strong message’ to Musharraf to end Emergency he had imposed on November 3, quit as army chief and restore the Constitution and key fundamental rights like the freedom of the press.

They said Negroponte highlighted US concerns about the political crisis in Pakistan and called for the release of all Opposition political and rights activists arrested under Emergency regulations to facilitate free and impartial general elections in January.