US sends top diplomat to tell Musharraf to end emergency rule as Bush praises him as democrat

President George W. Bush says Pakistan's president is a democrat and trusted ally, but Bush's government is sending a top envoy to tell Pervez Musharraf to rescind emergency rule and allow free and fair elections.

The envoy, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Friday to underscore U.S. consternation about the situation as Musharraf resists pressure to return to constitutional rule or to free opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, under house arrest for a second time.

Bush reiterated Tuesday that he wants Musharraf to lift his emergency decree but also that he views the Pakistani as a trusted ally, valuable to a …