Violence Continues As Pakistan Elects New President

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - Violence continues in Pakistan as Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, was announced as the president of the country on Saturday.

At least 12 people are dead and 50 others wounded after a car laden with explosives rammed into a security check point in Pakistan's volatile northwest region on Saturday.

The attack coincided with the announcement from the ruling government that Zardari will succeed former President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure on August 14.

Chief election commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq said that Zardari gained 281 votes out of the 426 valid votes polled in the parliament and three of the four provincial assemblies on Saturday.

Voting was carried out in Pakistan's two cambers of parliament and four provincial assemblies.

In Sindh, which is his home province, Zardari won 62 of the 65 possible electoral votes, while he secured 56 of 61 votes from North West Frontier Province and 59 of 63 votes in Baluchistan.

The fourth provincial votes have not yet been fully counted.

Over the last few months, the new government dedicated most of its time to ensure that Musharraf leaves his position or face impeachment.

Zardari is the leader of the country's majority party, Pakistan People's Party, in the coalition and had gained unanimous support from his party members as the frontrunner for the presidency.

Meanwhile, the suicide attack carried out on the outskirts of Peshawar left several people trapped under the debris of shops.

No militant group has taken responsibility for the suicide attack.