US hopes election of new Pak PM will improve ties

Islamabad: The Obama administration has welcomed the election of a new prime minister in Pakistan, and has expressed hope that the move would help improving ties between the two countries.

"We are pleased that the leadership issue appears to have been settled," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

"We obviously look forward to working with the new prime minister and hope that this will open space to continue to roll up our sleeves and get back on track with all of the things that we want to do with Pakistan," the News quoted her, as saying.

Pakistan MPs elected Raja Pervez Ashraf as the country's new prime minister on Friday, in a bid to end a crisis sparked by judges ousting the premier and demanding the arrest of his would-be successor.

Ashraf, in his speech after being elected, promised to develop 'cordial relations' with the US.

"We will develop cordial relations with United States and international community on the basis of equal rights and dignity," he said.

Relations between Washington and Islamabad have been deteriorating following a series of events in 2011, including the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a US commando raid on his Pakistani compound.