THE death toll from a Taleban suicide bomb in Pakistan's militant-plagued north-west region reached 35, officials said yesterday, as the country prepared for Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to take over as president.
The attack on Saturday highlighted the severe militant threat the Muslim nation and the president-elect are facing. Mr Zardari, who is expected to be sworn in tomorrow, has vowed to be tough on militancy, a stance that plays well in Washington, whe
re US officials, worried about rising violence in neighbouring Afghanistan, have pushed Pakistan to clamp down on extremist havens along its borders.
But he has a fine line to walk, as coming down too hard on insurgent activity risks inflaming Pakistani public opinion.
Mr Zardari is also being urged to clean up his own image as his track record is still tainted by a history of corruption allegations. At the same time, he faces pressure from opponents to reduce the powers of the presidency which allow the holder to appoint army chiefs and chair the committee that controls Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
Mr Zardari said: "Parliament is sovereign. This president shall be subservient to the parliament."
Dozens were also wounded in Saturday's attack when an explosives-packed pick-up truck blew up at a police checkpoint on the outskirts of Peshawar.
The full article contains 234 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
