Atlantic Council

Pakistan's newly sworn-in president Asif Ali Zardari vowed to fight Islamist militants and cooperate with Afghanistan in cross-border operations aimed at preventing terrorism. Taking oath earlier today, Mr Zardari paid tribute to his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, stating: "I accept this in her name and in the name of all the martyrs of democracy." However he offered little information relating to domestic policy. According to the BBC, this came as a disappointment to many Pakistani's who had hoped for a more concrete pledge with regards to tackling the country's rising inflation and economic instability.

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has been elected as Pakistan's new president.  CNN reports that "The election was not by public vote, but rather by lawmakers in the two houses of the National Assembly and in the four provincial assemblies around the country."  Pakistan's PTV reports that Zardari received 281 votes, retired Chief Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui received 111, and Senator Mushahid Hussein received 34.

Reuters notes that, "The presidency caps a remarkable transformation for Zardari, who spent 11 years in prison on charges of corruption and murder, although he denied all accusations and was never convicted."