Benazir Bhutto's widower swept Pakistan's presidential election on Saturday, offering hope for stability to a nuclear-armed country feeling intense U.S. pressure to crack down on Islamic militants.

  

In this March 9, 2008 file photo, Asif Ali Zardari, widower of slain opposition leader Benazir...

 Bhutto and co-chairman of Pakistan People's Party shares a light moment with journalists prior to a press conference in Bhurban, Pakistan. Zardari has agreed to run for Pakistani presidency, a party official said on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.

(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

In a grim reminder of the problems awaiting Asif Ali Zardari, rescuers in the northwest dug with their hands for survivors after at least 30 people were killed in a massive suicide bombing.

Already 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 marshaled a coalition that forced stalwart U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf to quit as head of state.

However, he begins with limited goodwill among a population who recall his nickname, Mr. Ten Percent, for alleged corruption during Bhutto's two terms in office as prime minister and doubt his political vision and leadership skills.

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