Husband of murdered Bhutto becomes Pakistan's President

Asif Ali Zardari won an overwhelming majority of votes in the national and four provincial assemblies – 481 out of a total of 705.

Supporters of his Pakistan People's Party shouted ‘Long live Bhutto!’ as the results came in.

Power: Zardari, the new Pakistan President, with his late wife Ms Bhutto

His two daughters, one carrying a portrait of their assassinated mother, smiled and hugged their friends.

Mr Zardari was thrust into the spotlight after his wife was killed by a suicide bomber as she addressed an election rally last December, weeks after returning from exile. She had twice served as Pakistan's Prime Minister.

As Mr Zardari celebrated his victory, there was a brutal reminder of the threats to the country’s stability when a suicide bomber killed at least 30 people and wounded dozens more in the north-western city of Peshawar.

A pick-up truck carrying 330lb of explosives blew up a security checkpoint, leading to the collapse of several shops.

Mr Zardari, 53, who has suffered past corruption allegations, becomes one of the most powerful civilian leaders in Pakistan’s turbulent history.

He marshalled the coalition that last month forced former president Pervez Musharraf to quit.

But he takes over at a critical time. Pakistan’s economy is crumbling and Islamic militants, unhappy with the country's co-operation with the US-led ‘war on terror’, have staged a string of suicide bombings.

Washington is pressing Pakistan to eradicate Taliban and Al Qaeda havens near its border with Afghanistan.