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From The Associated Press

Powerful storm raises fears from Caribbean to Gulf

KEY WEST, Fla.—Hurricane Ike grew to fierce Category 4 strength Saturday as it traced an uncertain path that forced millions along an arc of coastline from the Caribbean to Florida, and Louisiana to Mexico to nervously wonder where it would end up.

Preparations stretched more than 1,000 miles, from normally island chains through Florida and the U.S. Gulf Coast, where people all too familiar with devastating storms were worrying again as Ike’s winds picked up to 135-mph power.

Bhutto widower elected in Pakistani

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Benazir Bhutto’s widower swept Pakistan’s presidential election Saturday, offering hope for stability to a nuclear-armed country feeling intense U.S. pressure to crack down on Islamic militants.

Already head of the main ruling party, Zardari becomes one of the most powerful civilian leaders in Pakistan’s turbulent 61-year history. Last month, he marshaled a coalition that forced stalwart U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf to quit as head of state. However, he begins with limited goodwill among a population who recall his nickname, Mr. Ten Percent, for alleged corruption during Bhutto’s two terms in office as prime minister and doubt his political vision and leadership skills.