Democratic nudge for Musharraf

US President George W. Bush wants Pervez Musharraf to move towards democracy after the embattled Pakistani leader pulled back from declaring a state of emergency.

Any such move would have automatically extended the current Parliament for another 12 months, meaning a delay in elections due by early 2008.

Bush also renewed US calls for full co-operation from its key anti-terror ally in the hunt for al Qaeda leaders believed to be holed up in remote tribal lands along the Pakistan-Afghan border.