U.S. backs Pakistan's choice for Musharraf

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KARACHI , Pakistan, March 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said the United States will honor any choice new Pakistani leaders make concerning President Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf, who has been a prominent ally to the United States, has seen his power decline substantially in recent months, CNN reported Thursday.

"As far as the question of the status of President Musharraf, he is of course the president of the country, I met with him in that capacity. Any debate ... with regard to his status is something that will have to be addressed by internal Pakistani process. We certainly respect whatever is decided in that regard," Negroponte said.

Negroponte made the statement during a news conference in Karachi while visiting Pakistan, which some Pakistanis said was bad timing.