Lahore, Nov 16 : Pakistan People’s Party chief and ex-premier Benazir Bhutto today said that she was ready to hold talks with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who arrived in Islamabad this evening to put forward the Bush administration's view on the imposition of emergency.

"I can meet him, yes, " The News quoted Bhutto as telling a French news agency in an interview.

Her comments reinforced indications that Negroponte can meet the opposition leader during his short visit.

During his meeting with the Pakistani leadership, Negroponte is expected to ask the Musharraf regime to withdraw the emergency completely.

"The message is that... it's critically important that Pakistan get back on the road to Constitutional and democratic rule, " State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters in Washington when asked what message Negroponte would take with him to Islamabad.

"And, a critical element of that taking place is for the state of emergency to be lifted, to allow those who want to peacefully participate in Pakistan's political process to move freely, to have access to independent media, " McCormack said.

The statement of McCormack comes in the wake of senior Bush Administration officials saying that Negroponte is likely to deliver a blunt message from US President George W. Bush to President General Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency in Pakistan.

Other officials, however, feel that Negroponte is being specially dispatched to do a "face-to-face plain talking" with Musharraf. (ANI)