Bhutto widower Zardari elected president, reacts to win

(6 Sep 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of newly elected Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari walking up to podium in garden of prime minister's house, zoom in as he is joined by daughters Bakhtwar and Aseefa
2. Wide of Zardari at podium, flanked by Bakhtwar (on left) and Aseefa (on right)
3. Cutaway of water feature
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani president-elect:
"Today Pakistan People's Party has completed a great road block, has gone over a great road block, to complete the democratic process. I congratulate the nation, I congratulate the parliaments. It is the philosophy of shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in which we believe, which says 'Democracy is the best revenge'. The revenge from the dictators in the form of democracy. She taught us how to live, she taught us how to do politics, she taught us how to lead this part."
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani president-elect :
"And I would like history to remember that the weak democracy has managed to take a two third majority and make a president with a two third majority whereas a dictator in uniform could not perform. So democracy talks, and everybody hears. And to those who would say the People's Party or the presidency would be controversial, under our guardianship, under our stewardship I would say, listen to democracy. Ninety-nine percent of the people have spoken."
6. Speaker of national assembly Fehmida Mirza seated at dining table
7. Wide of table
8. Zardari and daughters walk off
9. Various of Zardari greeting supporters, officials as he leaves
STORYLINE
Pakistan's new president attended a celebratory dinner in the gardens of the prime minister's residence on Saturday, after winning a landslide election victory.
Unofficial results announced after separate votes in the federal and provincial assemblies showed Asif Ali Zardari won an overwhelming majority.
He was bolstered by public loyalty to his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and hopes that he can pull the country out of its economic doldrums.
In a brief speech, Zardari rejected criticism that he would be a divisive president.
"To those who would say that the People's Party or the presidency would be controversial under our guardianship, under our stewardship, I would say listen to democracy," he said.
Echoing one of his late wife's favourite slogans, he said "democracy was the best revenge" against military rulers.
Zardari hugged and shook hands with supporters and well-wishers who attended the dinner at the prime minister's residence on a hill overlooking the capital.
Head of the main ruling party, Zardari becomes one of the most powerful civilian leaders in Pakistan's turbulent 61-year history.
Last month, he marshalled a coalition that forced long-time US ally Pervez Musharraf to quit as head of state.
Zardari, a novice leader untested on the international stage and stained by past corruption allegations, takes over at a critical time for the volatile Muslim nation of more than 160 (m) million.
The economy is crumbling and, in a brutal reminder of the threats to the nation's stability, a suicide car bomber killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens on Saturday near the northwestern city of Peshawar.
The blast destroyed a police checkpoint and collapsed several nearby shops.
Saturday's attack was the latest in a string of suicide bombings usually claimed by Islamic militants who have steadily gained strength since
Pakistan joined the so-called US "war on terror" in 2001.

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