You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <links plcontinue="1|0|Drug_Price_Competition_and_Patent-Term_Restoration_Act" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <pages>
      <page pageid="1" ns="0" title="Main Page">
        <links>
          <pl ns="0" title="2002 Best Pharmaceuticals for Childrens Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Anabolic Steroids Control Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Antidote" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Barcoding technologies" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Compounding" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Drug Addiction Treatment Act" />
          <pl ns="0" title="Drug Enforcement Administration" />
        </links>
      </page>
    </pages>
  </query>
</api>