Musharraf says nuclear weapons safe while army rules

General Musharraf says that if elections promised in January go ahead under disturbed conditions, there is a danger that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal could fall into unsafe hands.

He was speaking ahead of expected talks with the visiting US Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, who has already spoken to Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto.

Mr Negroponte has told Ms Bhutto, a former prime minister, that moderate forces in Pakistan must work together to get the country back to democracy.

General Musharraf has dismissed the chances of Ms Bhutto winning the elections and questioned whether she really wants them to go ahead.

"It is she, actually, who may not be wanting elections in Pakistan," he said.

"And it is she who may want to go on to the agitational mode because she would not like to go into elections because her party is not in a state to win at all.

"Therefore I will certainly go for the election, in spite of any agitation by her - we will not allow that. "

General Musharraf says the US still supports him despite its concern about the state of emergency he has imposed in Pakistan.

"They show concern on the democratic front, they show concern over my uniform but they are totally on board on whatever our actions," he said.

"They have been bold and on the terrorist front they think that what we are doing is the right direction." © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation