Head of State Update

Meet the new president of Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's widower, was sworn in earlier today. Zardari had been elected on Saturday, receiving 481 of 702 votes cast by an amalgamation of the national Parliament and four regional assemblies. Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, a former judge who had the backing of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed of ex-President Pervez Musharraf's PML-Q also ran.

Afghan-Pakistani relations were at the forefront of the ceremonies today, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in attendance. Zardari and Karzai held a joint press conference with Zardari pledging to continue Pakistan's cooperation with the United States' "war on terror." Although this will be difficult as Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI, has been accused of assisting with attacks in Afghanistan, and the war is unpopular among Pakistanis, who see it as fanning extremism.

Also, Sharif recently pulled out of the coalition in Parliament that was united in opposition to Musharraf before he resigned. And Pakistan is facing an economic slump worsened by inflation.

Thailand Update: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled today that PM Samak Sundaravej violated the Thai Constitution by accepting payments to appear on the cooking show "Tasting and Complaining." Samak has been forced from office, yet his party is putting forth his name when Parliament selects a new PM Friday, making it possible for "Samak to succeed himself." Such is Thailand.

Musharraf Resigns

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned earlier today, saying that he would put the nation ahead of "personal bravado." Muhammad Mian Soomro, the president of the Senate, became the acting president. The move is mostly good news for Pakistan. In the long term, home-grown reform and true democracy will probably lead to a more stable Middle East. In the short term, Parliament can now focus on a poor economy and insurgents in the tribal, border areas, instead of their conflict with Musharraf.

However, the ruling coalition in Parliament may splinter without the glue of opposition to Musharraf holding it together. An amalgamation of Parliament and the four regional assemblies must decide within the next 30 days who should replace Musharraf. Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Benazir Bhutto's widower, seems to want the post, but he is opposed by the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, Nawaz Sharif. Sharif may agree to Zardari's appointment if the president is stripped of the powers to dissolve Parliament and choose the army chief.

Sharif and Zardari also disagree on judicial appointees. Sharif wants 57 supreme and high court justices removed by Musharraf to be reinstalled to their posts. Zardari wants those appointed in the interim to maintain their posts.

Musharraf's resignation has received mixed reactions internationally. The US offered faint praise, with spokesman Gordon Johndroe saying, "President Bush appreciates President Musharraf's efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaeda and extremist groups." The Afghans believe the move will allow Pakistan to crack down harder on militants and improve democracy in both countries.

India is more wary. New Delhi has learned how to deal with Musharraf and is worried about an apparent power vacuum. Indian officials are unsure who is running the show in Islamabad: "Is it Prime Minister Geelani, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari or General Kayani? We don't know."