(Updates with detail)
ISLAMABAD (Thomson Financial) - Pakistan's parliament today elected Yousuf
Raza Gilani, who was a stalwart aide of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto,
as the country's new prime minister, the national assembly speaker said.
Gilani won 264 votes in the 342-seat lower house of parliament, while
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a backer of President Pervez Musharraf, secured 42
votes. There were several abstentions.
Speaker Fahmida Mirza said: "Yousuf Raza Gilani commands the majority of the
members. Please come forward and take the seat of leader of the house,", as
supporters shouted "Long Live Bhutto!"
tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com
afp/cmr
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