Ministers turn down bid from Pakistan

Pakistan's pleas to be readmitted to the Commonwealth after last month's elections were rebuffed by its 54 foreign ministers yesterday. They welcomed the polls ­ the first since the 1999 military coup that brought about Pakistan's suspension ­ as "relatively free" but said they were not yet convinced the country had fully returned to democracy.

The ministers, meeting in London, said they were concerned that a new government had not yet been sworn in although the elections were three weeks ago. "The benchmark for Pakistan is the restoration of democracy. The elections have taken place ... but these processes are still going on," said Botswana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mompati Merafhe, the chairman of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).

"It would be premature for this committee to conclude that democracy had been restored in Pakistan. Until the finish line has been touched, there is very little we can do."

Mr Merafhe said it was not clear how many of the executive powers held by the President, Pervez Musharraf, were going to be transferred to elected MPs.

The decision is a bitter blow to General Musharraf, who hailed the elections as a return to democratic rule.

The group maintained its decision to keep events in Zimbabwe under review.