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Pakistan votes for new president Bhutto widower set for presidency
(about 4 hours later)
Voting has started in Pakistan to elect a successor to Pervez Musharraf, who resigned as president last month rather than risk impeachment. Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is well ahead as votes are counted in Pakistan's presidential election.
The winner is expected to be Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The election was called after Pervez Musharraf resigned rather than risk being impeached.
Voting is being held in both the national and provincial assemblies. The winner faces an Islamist insurgency and economic problems that are threatening Pakistan's stability.
The next president will have to tackle an Islamist insurgency and an economic crisis which are threatening the country's stability. Meanwhile a bomb has killed at least 12 people near the city of Peshawar and injured many more.
The president is elected by secret ballots in the national and four provincial assemblies.
In Sindh province, Mr Zardari won all 65 votes. In North West Frontier Province he got 56 out of the 65 votes. In Balochistan province he was heading to win about 60 of the 65 votes.
All the indications are that Mr Zardari will win in Punjab province and also in the two chambers of the national assembly which have a much bigger number of votes.
ControversyControversy
Mr Zardari was thrust into the centre of political power by the killing of Ms Bhutto last December after which he became head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).Mr Zardari was thrust into the centre of political power by the killing of Ms Bhutto last December after which he became head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
WHO VOTES FOR PRESIDENT? Total votes: 702National Assembly 342 votesSenate 100 votesFour provincial assemblies 65 votes eachWinner needs simple majority of votes What Pakistanis think'Master plan' to save PakistanQ&A: Presidential pollSend us your commentsWHO VOTES FOR PRESIDENT? Total votes: 702National Assembly 342 votesSenate 100 votesFour provincial assemblies 65 votes eachWinner needs simple majority of votes What Pakistanis think'Master plan' to save PakistanQ&A: Presidential pollSend us your comments
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mr Zardari is regarded by many as the de facto prime minister and he is now almost certain to become president. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that in recent months Mr Zardari has shown skill by forging a large coalition and using it to peacefully unseat the former military ruler, President Musharraf.
Our correspondent says that in recent months Mr Zardari has shown skill by forging a large coalition and using it to peacefully unseat the former military ruler, President Musharraf.
Mr Zardari is one of Pakistan's most controversial politicians.Mr Zardari is one of Pakistan's most controversial politicians.
For years he has been hounded by allegations of massive corruption - although he has never been convicted.For years he has been hounded by allegations of massive corruption - although he has never been convicted.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took his PML-N party out of the governing coalition last week, accusing Mr Zardari of breaking key promises.Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took his PML-N party out of the governing coalition last week, accusing Mr Zardari of breaking key promises.
Many in Pakistan fear the country is facing a return to an old-style politics of confrontation at a time when urgent action is needed to improve the economy and deal with a raging Islamist insurgency.Many in Pakistan fear the country is facing a return to an old-style politics of confrontation at a time when urgent action is needed to improve the economy and deal with a raging Islamist insurgency.
Juggling demandsJuggling demands
Mr Zardari is seen as pro-Western and supportive of Washington's self-declared war on terror.Mr Zardari is seen as pro-Western and supportive of Washington's self-declared war on terror.
Nawaz Sharif's coalition with Mr Zardari did not last longNawaz Sharif's coalition with Mr Zardari did not last long
If he becomes president, he will have to juggle the demands of the United States, Pakistan's powerful army, and strong anti-American sentiment in the country.If he becomes president, he will have to juggle the demands of the United States, Pakistan's powerful army, and strong anti-American sentiment in the country.
Our correspondent says Mr Musharraf tried to do that and failed. She adds that Pakistanis hope that Asif Zardari will have more success, but they see little in his past to encourage them.Our correspondent says Mr Musharraf tried to do that and failed. She adds that Pakistanis hope that Asif Zardari will have more success, but they see little in his past to encourage them.
The other candidates are Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, a former judge who has the backing of Mr Sharif, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who was nominated by the PML-Q party that supported Mr Musharraf.The other candidates are Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, a former judge who has the backing of Mr Sharif, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who was nominated by the PML-Q party that supported Mr Musharraf.
In the Islamabad parliament, members of the upper house, the Senate, are voting first, followed by the lower house. In the Islamabad parliament, members of the upper house, the Senate, were due to vote first, followed by the lower house.
Voting is being held in a similar fashion in Pakistan's four provincial assemblies of Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province. Pakistan's four provincial assemblies of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and the North-West Frontier Province had a similar schedule. The provincial assemblies are given equal weighting with 65 votes each. In the three assemblies which do not have 65 deputies, the value of each deputy's vote is adjusted by a mathematical formula.
There is only one round of voting and whoever has most of the 702 votes wins. Results are expected late on Saturday. There is only one round of voting and whoever has most of the 702 votes wins.