The widower of slain former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has decided to run for president.

The ruling Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari speaks during the party's central executive meeting in Islamabad, 22 Aug 2008

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) officials Saturday announced their leader, Asif Ali Zardari, has accepted their nomination to replace former President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned earlier this week rather than face impeachment. 

Federal and provincial lawmakers will elect a new president on September sixth.

Earlier Saturday, Zardari's coalition partner, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with PPP leaders in the eastern city of Lahore to discuss the presidential race.  After the meeting, Sharif told reporters he would support Zardari's bid, if he vows to do away with the presidential power to dismiss parliament.

Mr. Sharif and Zardari have been deadlocked over the restoration of judges whom President Musharraf fired. 

The former prime minister said Friday a resolution to reinstate judges will be presented to parliament for a vote on Monday.  He said he expects the judiciary to be restored two days later.

Mr. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party earlier threatened to pull out of the government unless an agreement on the matter was reached by Friday.

Zardari has been reluctant to restore the judiciary and the chief justice.  If reinstated, the justices could take up challenges to a legal amnesty granted to PPP leaders on corruption charges. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.