The US called on Pakistani authorities and their opponents to show the “utmost” restraint after anti-government street protests turned violent in the south Asian nation. But at the same time the State Department reaffirmed its strong support for President Pervez Musharraf, whose decision to sack the country’s chief justice sparked the opposition demonstrations. “What we would urge in this case is that both sides exercise the utmost degree of restraint in seeking to reduce the opportunity for violent clashes between protestors and police,” department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday. Full Story