Pakistan's opposition parties are planning their next move in the formation of a new government, including selecting a new prime minister and weighing the fate of President Pervez Musharraf.

The party of Pakistan's late former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, met Friday to discuss their choice for the next prime minister after securing victory in Monday's polls.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Pakistan's major cities Friday, to protest the re-publication of a controversial Danish cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammed.

The stinging rebuke Pakistani voters delivered to President Pervez Musharraf has reverberated in the corridors of power in Washington. Since 1999, the United States only had to deal with one single figure in Islamabad, especially on United States' key concern in Pakistan: counterterrorism. But, as VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, the U.S. must now navigate a considerably more complex political landscape.

President Bush says Monday's general elections in Pakistan were fair and that he hopes the new government there will continue an anti-terrorism alliance with the United States. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says he will not step down, despite big opposition wins.

Election officials are counting the votes in Pakistan after a key parliamentary election designed to restore democracy following eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf. VOA Correspondent Meredith Buel spoke with voters and election observers in Islamabad.

Pakistan's national elections are due to be held Monday. The poll is seen as a test of the country's commitment to democracy. But many Pakistanis are expressing pessimism that the political exercise will bring about real change in the country. Raymond Thibodeaux reports from Rawalpindi.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is pledging that next week's parliamentary elections will be free, fair, transparent and peaceful. During a speech in Islamabad, Mr. Musharraf denied allegations the vote will be rigged and blasted international polling organizations who say his popularity is plummeting. From Islamabad, VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details.

In a new book released Tuesday, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto says she was optimistic about her return to Pakistan, but knew about the dangers to her life.

U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says militants linked to the Taliban and al-Qaida have found safe haven in Pakistan and represent a threat to both the United States and Pakistan. Admiral Mullen made the remarks after meeting with top government and military officials in Pakistan. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Islamabad.

Military and political analysts in Pakistan are expressing growing concern that al-Qaida and Taliban-linked insurgents are now emerging from their traditional strongholds along the border with Afghanistan and are becoming a serious threat to the entire country.

The top U.S. military officer says the missile strike that reportedly killed a key al-Qaida commander in northern Pakistan was a "very important" one in the war on terrorism.