WRAP Opposition leader says PPP will take part in elex; ADDS presser

(30 Nov 2007) AP TELEVISION 1. Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto shaking hands with visiting US senator Bob Corker, Republican, Tennessee 2. Bhutto shaking hands with US delegation members 3. Wide of meeting 4. Bhutto talking to Corker and Republican Congressmen David Dreier (California), Darrell Issa (California), Joe Wilson (S. Carolina) 5. Close of Corker 6. Close of Bhutto 7. Mid shot US delegates and US Ambassador Anne Patterson 8. Wide of meeting 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Benazir Bhutto, leader of opposition Pakistan People's Party: "We are worried about the elections. We have our reservations, but we are going in under protests and we hope that, as we participate, we can try and improve the situation and General Musharraf has taken the right steps in retiring as Chief of Army Staff and giving a date, both for elections and lifting of the emergency. We think that these steps are important for trying to bring the temperature down, although there is still the need for an independent election commission and measures for a fair election." 10. Cutaway US Ambassador Anne Patterson 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Senator Bob Corker, US delegation member: "Well, we are encouraged today that the former prime minister will not do that and we know how important it is that her party participate. We hope all parties participate because otherwise it is very difficult to put together a proper coalition and form a government that really works for the people. So we encourage that. We hope that it occurs. Certainly we want to do everything we can to make sure the elections are open, that they are free and that they are impartial." 12. Corker presenting a gift to Bhutto AAJTV - NO ACCESS PAKISTAN ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ 13. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Benazir Bhutto, leader of opposition Pakistan People's Party: "The journey is still ahead of us, there are still some constitutional issues to be addressed. Especially, the question remains what will happen during these elections. General Sahib has said that these elections will be fair. But saying it is not enough. It becomes fair by the work of the election commission, the electoral process. It will be beneficial for the country if the elections are fair." ++ PLEASE NOTE: NO CUTAWAY BETWEEN THESE TWO SOUNDBITES++ 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Benazir Bhutto, leader of opposition Pakistan People's Party: "You know Miya Sahib (former prime minister Nawaz Sharif) has come back to the country after a long time. I have come back to the country after a long time. I've had a meeting with the ARD leaders, (The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy) but all the political leaders have not really been able to meet. So I'm looking forward to having a discussion with them." 15. Bhutto in crowded room STORYLINE: Pakistani opposition leaders were divided on Friday on whether to contest parliamentary elections under President Pervez Musharraf, a day after he bowed to international pressure by saying he would end emergency rule ahead of the ballot. "We're worried about the elections. We have our reservations, but we're going in under protest," former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said in comments made to AP Television. "We hope that, as we participate, we can try and improve the situation," she said after meeting a visiting US congressional delegation. An electoral boycott would represent a serious blow to both Musharraf and the administration of US President George W. Bush, which has pressured him to return Pakistan to democracy after ruling as a military dictator since 1999 when he overthrew Sharif. 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...