ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has called for commitment to political pluralism, tolerance and peaceful change through democracy but also affirmed her resolve to continue the fight against terrorism, dictatorship and bigotry. She accused President Gen Pervez Musharraf of exploiting the 'war on terror' to solidify his military rule.

"The world must remember that until he found it expedient to align with the US against terrorism, his regime was supporting the Taliban. Even as he bans militant groups to demonstrate good faith to the rest of the world, those same groups spring up under another name," Ms Bhutto said while addressing the Global Institute of Leadership in Palm Desert in California, says a press release issued by the PPP media cell here on Wednesday.

She said although Gen Musharraf joined the war against terror following the ultimatum by President Bush, supporters of extremist groups still hold influential positions in his regime and terrorists operate in tribal areas.

The US and the rest of the world must remember that Pakistan has an extra-constitutional military government with no democratic legitimacy, she maintained.

She termed the October 2002 general elections "exercises in fraud".

Ms Bhutto, who is also Pakistan People's Party's Chairperson, cited the EU observers report describing the elections as a deeply flawed exercise.

She said, "a democratic Pakistan is the best guarantee of the triumph of moderation and modernity among one billion Muslims at the crossroads of our history.

"The alternative of a long-term nuclear-armed Pakistani dictatorship has consequences that could make September 11 look like a mere prelude to an even more horrific future for the civilized world."

She expressed her resolve to continue fighting for democracy and rule of law, despite persecution of her party.

Ms Bhutto said her husband was arrested the night her government was overthrown on November 4, 1996 and had been held hostage to her political struggle since then.

"They [rulers] have taken away the best years of his life. Each time he is acquitted of a baseless charge, he is re-indicted under even more absurd accusations. He has been tortured too. He nearly lost his life under physical torture in 1999, suffered from a crippling spinal disease that remains untreated. She had not seen him for the last five years.

"Of our 17 years marriage, he [Asif] has spent 11 behind bars without being convicted of any crime. I am told that he will be freed if I announce my retirement from politics. I know that my duty to my people comes first, for the sake of my children and all the children of Pakistan. My duty to Pakistan's democratic struggle is one baptized in blood. I have come too far to turn back now."

About the fight on terror the former prime minister said, "we fight against terrorism, and we fight against the bigotry and intolerance".

She said, "freedom and democracy were under assault. Criminal terrorists hijack my religion just as they hijack America's planes". She called for commitment to the principles of political pluralism, tolerance and peaceful change through democracy and added, owe shall in the end prevail.

Ms Bhutto said that some people used religion to justify their politics, to justify dictatorship and to manipulate a clash of civilizations under which they thrive.

"I do not believe that such a clash of civilizations is inevitable. It is ignorance and fanaticism that seeks to create a clash of civilization among East and West, among Islam and the rest of the world."