Pakistan: PPP leader Zardari elected president

07/09/2008 -- 8:55 PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari was elected the 14th president of Pakistan on September 6 after winning a landslide election victory, according to news agencies. PPP Co-chairman Zardari, widower of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, secured 481 votes from the total number of 702 votes of the electoral college consisting of two houses of the parliament and four provincial assemblies, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced in the evening of September 6. According to Pakistan’s constitution, the candidate who has simple majority of the 702 votes will be the next president of the country. Leaders in Western countries and neighbours Iran and Afghanistan congratulated Pakistan 's new president Zardari upon his election. In Washington , White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said US President George W. Bush "looks forward to working with him, Prime Minister Gillani, and the government of Pakistan on issues important to both countries." In a statement hours after lawmakers voted the PPP leader into office, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he looked "forward to working closely with President Zardari to further deepen our partnership with Pakistan ." From Brussels, the European Union (EU) urged Pakistan's new leader to help ease security concerns in the region. France, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, called for "an easing of tensions in the region and encourages the Pakistani authorities to make a decisive contribution to regional stability." European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said the commission would work with Pakistan to help “meet the important economic and security challenges the country is currently facing." Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he hoped PPP Co-Chairman Zaradi's election would herald an upturn in relations, while Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hoped bilateral ties will expand.-Enditem
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