Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher were expected to steer clear of a political crisis over the suspension of Pakistan's top judge.

But Boucher -- who on Wednesday met Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and members of Pakistan's election commission -- said the United States wanted the upcoming general election to be fully democratic.

"The elections should be free, fair and transparent. They should meet international standards," the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Boucher as saying at a reception in Islamabad late Wednesday.

Boucher said that American observers would help monitor the election.

He also discussed the election process with MPs from the ruling party and the opposition.

Negroponte, the former US director of national intelligence, was due to visit Pakistan later in the week for talks with Pakistani leaders, a US official said on condition of anonymity.

Pakistan's once fractious opposition has united over military ruler Musharraf's March 9 ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Clashes over the issue last month claimed more than 40 lives.

Around 3,000 lawyers and opposition supporters chanting "Go Musharraf, go" rallied in the eastern city of Lahore on Thursday and called for free elections to be held as soon as possible.

When asked about the judicial issue, Boucher replied that it "should be settled within the court," APP said.

Opposition parties allege Musharraf suspended Chaudhry to remove any legal hurdle to re-election as president-in-uniform for another five years, which the constitution prohibits.

The presidential election by the federal and provincial assemblies is expected in September, while the general election is likely in late 2007 or possibly early 2008.

US officials would not comment on whether Boucher would talk with Musharraf about his role as army chief. Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

They added that security issues would still feature at the talks.

However the focus of the US visits is in contrast to previous trips, which have concentrated on Pakistan's role in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants based near the border with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Taliban supremo Mullah Mohammad Omar are not in southwestern Pakistan, a provincial chief minister told a top US diplomat yesterday.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher travelled to Quetta, the capital of rugged Baluchistan province bordering Afghanistan, for talks with local officials.

Afghan officials and some Nato commanders have alleged that Taliban leaders are based in the city and using outposts in Pakistan to launch cross-border attacks on international and Afghan troops.

"There is no Taliban headquarters in Baluchistan nor are the Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar or Osama bin Laden in Baluchistan," provincial chief minister Jan Mohammad Yusuf told Boucher, according to an official statement.