Bhutto's son to lead Pakistan People's Party

Hello, it's Monday, December 31, 2007. I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk today with a UPI top...  More »

Hello, it's Monday, December 31, 2007. I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk today with a UPI top news update. Benazir Bhutto's 19 year old son has been named her successor as chairman of the Pakistan People's Party. Officials say Bilawal Zardari will fill the spot for the slain former Pakistani Prime Minister after he finishes his studies. In Bhutto's will she apparently named her husband Asif Ali Zardari to head the party but he'll pass that responsibility on to their son when he's done with school. The Pakistan People's party also says it will participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections planned for January 8. Meanwhile, U.S. Presidential candidates are attempting to show strength in international relations. Following the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, several candidates are responding to the incident. Former Democratic senator John Edwards said he spoke to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf about the future of Pakistan. Republican candidate John McCain says the elections in the country could be delayed but must move forward. Democratic Senator Barack Obama says those elections should go on as planned or very shortly after. Violence erupted in Nairobi, Kenya following the re-election of the country's president Mwai Kibaki. In the closest election in Kenyan history, Kibaki was confirmed the winner yesterday...beating out Raila Odinga by only a little more than 230,000 votes. Rioters have been taking the streets for the past few days in anticipation of the results. It only intensified when the winner was announced. Already dozens people have reportedly died in the violence since Saturday. Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is questioning his rival Mitt Romney's honesty. In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, Huckabee called Romney's campaign dishonest and said he can't be trusted in the White House. He also called Romney's political attacks on him and John McCain desperate. Romney has released TV ads recently attacking Huckabee's record on taxes and crime as Arkansas governor. That's all for now. Check out a new special report on upi.com called Nothing But Hope. Thanks for watching and Happy New Year.  « Less