Counting begins after Pakistanis vote, mostly in peace

Monday after an election in Pakistan which was far less violent than feared, although it could result in a parliament set on driving U.S. ally President Pervez Musharraf from power.The former army chief called for reconciliation after casting his vote in the city of Rawalpindi, where opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27.The vote for a new National Assembly and provincial assemblies was to have been held early last month, but was delayed because of Bhutto's assassination.Polling stations closed their doors at 5 p.m. (1200 GMT). Results are expected to start emerging by midnight and trends should be clear on Tuesday morning.
The death of Bhutto, the most progressive, Western-friendly politician in a Muslim nation rife with anti-American sentiment, raised concern about stability in the nuclear-armed state.More than 450 people have died in militant-related violence this year.Fear of more violence kept many Pakistanis away from the polls, despite 80,000 troops backing up police.Election official Mohammad Farooq estimated turnout at 35 pct at his polling station in Rawalpindi.
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As in the days of Noah....