Washington  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that Pakistan's political leaders must continue to make compromises to stabilize democratic rule and prevent unrest.

Clinton telephoned over the weekend with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif to help diffuse a political crisis after mass demonstrations brought Pakistan to the brink of widespread turmoil.

Wider fallout was averted after the government agreed to reinstate Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, a key demand by Sharif, who abandoned the protest shortly after Gilani announced the decision.

"The resolution that they have agreed upon is the first step of what has to be an ongoing reconciliation and compromising of political views that can stabilize civilian democracy and the rule of law," Clinton said.

She said that doing so will help prevent "extremism and violence from stalking the Pakistani people." (dpa)