ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday a general election would be held by January 9 but under a state of emergency he imposed eight days ago.
Musharraf, under pressure from rivals and Western allies to put nuclear-armed Pakistan back on a path to democracy, said the National Assembly and provincial assemblies would be dissolved in coming days, upon completion of their terms.
The army chief also told a news conference he would quit the military and be sworn in as a civilian president as soon as the Supreme Court struck down challenges to his October 6 re-election. He said he hoped that would happen as soon as possible.
Fresh violence erupted between police and supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto with four people hurt when police fired to break up protests in Bhutto's home province of Sindh, and many people detained, a party official said.
Bhutto, who has been demanding an end to emergency rule and a speedy poll, said the announcement on the vote was positive.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also welcomed the announcement but called for an end to emergency rule.
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