Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will stay on as head of the army if he is not elected for another presidential term, his lawyer says.

Speaking in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the lawyer was clarifying the general's conditional promise to remove his military uniform.

The court will decide if he can stand for election while holding both posts.

On Monday, the US called on President Musharraf to ensure that forthcoming elections are free and fair.

Protests

Growing opposition to military rule has come to a head with imminent presidential elections.

Facing Supreme Court challenges, Gen Musharraf finally promised that he would resign as head of the army if he is elected president for another term.

Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum gave more details about the president's plans on Tuesday.

"It is very clear that if not elected he will remain chief of army staff," he told the Supreme Court.

But he denied the president had any plans to impose martial law if his re-election strategy does not go according to plan.

"There will be no martial law," he said, "there will be no emergency."

Pakistan's ruling Muslim League-Q party said on Tuesday that President Musharraf had signed the nomination papers for his candidacy, which had been endorsed by 17 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

"We have the required votes to ensure his success," the party's Secretary-General, Mushahid Hussain, told the AFP news agency.

Arrests

The announcement by Mr Qayyum has been condemned by the opposition.

"He has taken the whole country hostage through the power of the gun," said opposition MP and former Pakistani cricket captain, Imran Khan, one of a number of people who have petitioned the court against Gen Musharraf remaining army chief and president.

In recent days security forces have arrested hundreds of activists and blocked roads leading to the capital.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US government, a close ally of President Musharraf, found the detentions "troubling".

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the big question now is what happens if he is not elected.

BBC correspondent says the general is determined to prevent the opposition from taking to the streets to protest against his election.

And observers believe he is determined to cling to power, either as president or army chief, or both.

One editorial accused the government of trying to get the president elected by hook or by crook and said the crackdown showed a severe crisis of credibility rather than strength.

PHOTO CAPTION

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf