Pakistan has confirmed the release of more than 3,000 prisoners jailed under President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule.
In a further move aimed at ending weeks of political turmoil and worldwide anger, the election commission insisted that Pakistan would hold a general election on 8 January as planned.
Mr Musharraf, who earlier flew to Saudi Arabia where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif lives in exile, faces global calls to scrap the state of emergency, free detainees, lift curbs on the media and ensure a fair vote.
An interior ministry spokesman said that 3,416 lawyers and political activists arrested since the emergency was imposed on 3 November had already been released, while the remaining 2,000 would be freed 'soon'.
Others facing criminal charges, including the hunger-striking former cricket player Imran Khan, must apply for bail in the courts to be released.
The US gave a cautious welcome to the release, saying it would be 'a positive development' if confirmed.
However, police have arrested 140 journalists during a protest in Karachi against the shutting of two leading TV channels.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte demanded during weekend talks with Mr Musharraf that the military ruler roll back his emergency measures, saying the current crisis was not compatible with free elections.
Officials said Mr Musharraf had no plans to meet with former premier Mr Sharif, who has lived in exile in Jeddah since soon after Musharraf toppled him in 1999.
Pakistan's opposition parties are meanwhile in talks with each other about whether to boycott the general election.
Mr Sharif has said it was 'not possible' to take part if the vote is held under emergency rule.
But former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose party is the biggest opposition group in the country, was meeting key party aides to decide on a boycott.
