The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agency, Islamabad

Pakistan's new Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gillani, has told parliament in Islamabad that his top priority will be the fight against terrorism.

Setting out plans for the first 100 days of his coalition government, he told MPs that "terrorism and extremism" were the country's "greatest problems". The National Assembly endorsed him without a vote of confidence.

Gillani is a member of the Pakistan People's Party, whose leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in December.

He was sworn in as prime minister on Tuesday at the head of a coalition between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The parties' success in the 18 February general election was seen as a blow to President Pervez Musharraf.

"It is our first priority to bring peace to the country and fight terrorism," Gillani told parliament.

The government, he added, was willing to talk to militants who laid down their arms.

Gillani also announced measures that could lead to integrating Pakistan's lawless tribal areas into the rest of the country, granting tribesmen political and social rights they do not currently have.

The prime minister promised to reduce perks for government ministers, a gesture acknowledging the growing economic hardships for most Pakistanis.