LAHORE: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto here on Sunday said the announcement of election schedule by President Musharraf might fail to defuse the crisis because the government was sending out conflicting signals.

Elaborating her position, she said on the one hand the government was announcing the timetable for the next general elections while on the other it has amended an Army Act to give the military more powers over civilians, including possible court martial.

She was addressing a press conference at Senator Latif Khosa's residence here on Sunday. Flanked by her party leadership, Benazir termed the election schedule a positive step, adding "it would have been much better had the president decided to retire as Chief of Army Staff before Nov 15".

Criticising the recent amendment to the Army Act, she said it was 'very difficult' to hold transparent elections under such an act. However, she shied away from questions on the PPP's intentions to contest elections under martial law.

To another question whether she recognised President Gen Pervez Musharraf as legitimate official, Benazir said there was no official notification on the presidential election as the Supreme Court had only allowed him to contest the poll.

Commenting on the Army Act, Benazir observed there was no mention in the law whether it was meant only for suspected militants or would apply to general public as well. "We do not feel at ease," she said.

She added the government steps: both political and apolitical, betraying a sense of confusion. "The situation will not improve because conditions are at their worst," the PPP chairperson said. About the long-march, she said it would go ahead as scheduled.

"We don't know whether the government has real intentions of repressing the masses," she said, hoping a massive public response if the government did not create obstacles in the way. She urged all segments of the society to participate in the march.

About the dialogue with the government, Benazir said: "I have never talked about power sharing, nor has President Musharraf. There is a difference between the PPP and other parties. We have never closed the doors of negotiations."

However, there was no question of negotiations during the state of 'martial law', she added. She said there were issues that needed to be resolved like the revival of judiciary, balance of power between the president and prime minister, caretaker set-up and reconstitution of the election commission.

AFP adds: The PPP chairperson said free and fair elections were not possible under the Army Act and emergency rule. She also pointed to curbs on the media and sacking of the chief justice and other judges.

"A dictator never enjoys the support of the masses," she said. "There is a danger to our country, and your sister has come here to share these concerns with you. To strengthen democracy, we will have to organise people's power."