Islamabad, Nov 5: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today urged Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf to "return to a constitutional path" so that the general elections can be held in the country.

"We think that the best thing for Pakistan is to return to a constitutional path and then hold elections," The News quoted Rice as saying at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah where she has been meeting with Palestinian leaders.

"It is also true that President Musharraf said that he would take off his uniform and that would be an important step," she added.

Earlier today, Washington suspended its annual defence talks with Islamabad because of the prevailing political situation in that country.

Eric Edelman, the Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, was supposed to lead a US team for talks beginning on Tuesday, but he will not go until political conditions improve, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters.  

Morrell is travelling with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who also on Monday called for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to return his country to a constitutional form of government. (ANI)