Opposition leader at rally, US Dep Sec State Negroponte on visit
(12 Sep 2007) SHOTLIST 1. Wide exterior of foreign ministry building 2. US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte enters building 3. Various of Negroponte greeting Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, handshake 4. Various of talks between Negroponte and Khan 5. Negroponte enters room, greets Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri 6. Negroponte and Kasuri in meeting 7. Wide of Negroponte and Khan entering news conference 8. SOUNDBITE (English) John Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State: "This is a legal matter for the government and people of Pakistan to decide. Our only wish is that whatever is done, be done in a peaceful manner and that it lead to a peaceful and democratic political evolution in this country." 9. Wide of news conference 10. SOUNDBITE (English) John Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State: "There is no doubt whatsoever of Pakistan's commitment to restoring and establishing security in that part of the country and more than doing its share in the war against terror." 11. Reporters 12. SOUNDBITE (English) John Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State: "We approach this question as friends and allies, and we intend to carry out whatever activities we do in the border areas in complete respect for the sovereignty of Pakistan." 13. Reporters leave after news conference 14. Wide of Tehreek-e-Insaf party supporters demonstrating at police road block close to Pakistan Foreign Ministry 15. Protesters chanting slogans against President General Pervez Musharraf 16. Poster in car window reading (English) "Go home Negroponte, You are not welcome" 17. Set up shot of Pakistani opposition leader, Imran Khan 18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Imran Khan, Pakistani opposition leader: "He is gone, you are seeing the last attempts, desperate attempts, of a dictator to cling to power and this protest was actually against Negroponte coming here and propping up this dictator just so that he is doing their bidding in Waziristan where the Pakistan army is being used as a mercenary army against its own people in the tribal area." 19. Various of protesters chanting STORYLINE A top US envoy paid tribute to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's government on Wednesday with comments that could take some heat off the military leader as he struggles to secure another term in office. US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte praised Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts and avoided overt criticism of Monday's deportation of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling. "This is a legal matter for the government and people of Pakistan to decide. Our only wish is that whatever is done, be done in a peaceful manner and than it lead to a peaceful and democratic political evolution in this country," Negroponte said. Sharif's party claims about 5-thousand of its supporters were rounded up ahead of his abortive homecoming after seven years in exile. Musharraf is facing hostility at home over the expulsion of Sharif, whose elected government he ousted in a 1999 coup. The step removed a key political rival who could have upset the president's re-election plan. Negroponte's remarks come shortly after authorities barred another opposition leader, Imran Khan, from entering the country's biggest city, Karachi, which is dominated by a pro-Musharraf party. Khan was halted by police at Karachi airport on Wednesday and sent back to the capital. Riot police later stopped Khan and about two dozens supporters from marching to the Foreign Office, where Negroponte spoke. Khan said 300 of his supporters had been arrested in Karachi. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
