Islamabad, Nov 14: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that he is not a dictator, and wanted to restore democracy in the country.

Musharraf said he felt let down by the West and betrayed by the media and remarked, "I am not a dictator. "

Musharraf had told a British News channel that he had considered resigning.

In an interview, Musharraf said he had considered his position but now felt he was the man to lead Pakistan into democracy.

Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3 and has since detained thousands of opposition politicians, activists and lawyers.

His actions have been widely condemned by Western Governments, which are urging him to end military rule and move towards democracy with free and fair elections next January.

Earlier, defending his decision to impose emergency in Pakistan, Musharraf had said that emergency was declared to ensure elections go in an "undisturbed manner. "

He categorically rejected an appeal by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to lift the emergency rule, saying, "I totally disagree with her. " He added that Pakistan was suffering from a "disturbed terrorist environment. "

Musharraf told the New York Times in an interview here that the decree was justified as the Supreme Court had questioned the validity of his re-election, and because of the seriousness of threats from terrorists.

Commenting on the popular view about the emergency rule, Musharraf said, "People’s view is why have I done it so late… Ninety percent of human rights activists may have never cast their votes. They sleep on the day of elections. "

On being asked when would he shed his uniform, Musharraf refused to give an exact date and said: "It will happen soon. " (ANI)