WASHINGTON, Aug 16: The White House has once again refused to take a public stance on President Pervez Musharraf’s impeachment, resisting pressure from US lawmakers to take a clear stance on this issue.

“These are all matters for the Pakistani political system and for the Pakistanis to deal with,” said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

“We certainly hope that any actions that they take are consistent with the rule of law and constitutional principles, but I want to be clear these are matters for the Pakistanis to determine.”

As the White House maintained its apparent neutrality, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden warned the Bush administration not to protect Mr Musharraf.

“I urge the Bush Administration to refrain from any actions which might appear to thwart the will of the Pakistani people,” said Senator Biden.

His comments follow reports in the US media that President George W. Bush still has a soft corner for the besieged Pakistani leader, although rest of his administration believes that Mr Musharraf can no longer be saved.

According to these reports, Mr Bush’s close advisers had advised him not to accept the call if President Musharraf telephones him because it would send a wrong signal to Pakistan.

Mr Bush’s reluctance is also preventing his administration from taking a clear stance on the impeachment issue.

At recent briefings, Mr Johndroe, a national security spokesman, and White House Press Secretary Dana Perino both avoided making comments that could be interpreted as favouring or opposing the Pakistani president.

“I don’t have anything for you on that,” said Mr Johndroe when asked if the White House believed Mr Musharraf was about to quit. Mr Biden, a presumptive running mate for Barack Obama in this year’s presidential election, however, welcomed efforts within Pakistan to end the political deadlock that has paralysed the country since the ruling coalition announced its decision to impeach President Musharraf.

“I am heartened by the reconciliation of the leading political parties in Pakistan and their decision to break the deadlock, which has virtually immobilised the Pakistani government in recent months,” he said.

“The political future of President Musharraf is a matter to be decided by the Pakistani people, through normal constitutional channels,” said Senator Biden while urging the Bush administration not to interfere.

“I urge the parties, the Pakistani military and President Musharraf to resolve this crisis within the bounds of Pakistani law,” he said, hinting that the US Congress would not accept any unconstitutional move.

Mr Biden is a strong supporter of democracy in Pakistan and had also proposed $1 billion special assistance to help establish democracy in the country.

If Mr Biden is elected vice-president in November, Mr Musharraf will not have any supporter in the new US administration. Mr Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, also has made it clear that he would back democratic forces in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, another US lawmaker, Congressman Steve J. Israel, backed the call for President Musharraf to step down.

“The people of Pakistan have spoken clearly and decisively for a transition from a decade of dictatorship to democracy in the February 18th election,” he said. “It is time for Gen (retd) Musharraf to accept the mandate of the people for democratic change, and step down for the sake of his nation.”

The congressman also demanded immediate restoration of all judges deposed by President Musharraf. “The immediate step after Mr Musharraf’s departure should be the restoration of the old independent judiciary,” he said. “Without getting the judges back on the Supreme Court and high court benches, Pakistan cannot move forward and make the progress it needs.”