Hillary calls Zardari amid standoff with opposition

Islamabad: Amid an intense stand-off between the Pakistan government and the opposition, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari asserting that US was "keen to see a stable and democratic system strengthened" in the country.

In a telephonic conversation with Zardari, Hillary discussed the prevailing situation in Pakistan and said the US was "keen to see a stable and democratic system strengthened in the country", said a statement from presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar in Pakistan.

Hillary also discussed regional and bilateral issues with Zardari and the forthcoming meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum to be held in Tokyo next month.

She said the US will support Pakistan in its efforts to "recover its economic strength and stability". She also said the US will support Pakistan in every possible manner to tide over its difficulties, the statement said.

Zardari thanked her for US' support to Pakistan, the statement said.

The development came amid stepped up diplomatic efforts by the US and eestern powers to ease tensions between Zardari's Pakistan People's Party and the main opposition PML-N led by former premier Nawaz Sharif.

US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke is among world leaders who have contacted both Zardari and Sharif to urge them to end the confrontation between their parties.

Sharif has been locked in a bitter stand-off with the government since Pakistan's Supreme Court barred him and his brother, former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif, from contesting polls and holding elected office. Zardari imposed Governor's Rule in Punjab following the court's decision.

The Sharif brothers have accused Zardari of influencing the court's verdict and thrown their weight behind a countrywide protest by lawyers aimed at reinstating judges deposed during the 2007 emergency imposed by then president Pervez Musharraf.

They have vowed to lead a long march that will culminate with a sit-in near parliament on March 16.