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Officials in Islamabad said Zardari cruised to victory in voting among both houses of the country's national assembly, The New York Times reported. He also won majorities in the four provincial parliaments.

As he claimed victory, Zardari urged Pakistanis to put their differences aside, The Telegraph reported.

"Let any bitterness that may have been generated by campaigning be left behind us, and let us all now join hands for the common cause and common good of the people beyond partisan considerations", he said.

Zardari, 53, succeeds Pervez Musharraf, who was forced to resign last month under the threat of impeachment. Zardari spent 11 years in jail on corruption charges that were not proven, and is seen as strongly pro-Western and supportive of U.S. efforts to battle militant Taliban extremists both in neighboring Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan itself.

Pakistan information minister Sherry Rehman told the Times, "This is a verdict of the people of Pakistan. Today, every Pakistani can raise his head with pride."

Zardari was thrown into the spotlight after Bhutto's assassination in December, becoming head of the Pakistan People's Party.

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