PRESSTV- Pakistani lawmakers in the National Parliament have formally passed a resolution accepting Pervez Musharraf's resignation as President.

National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, who received Musharraf's resignation, was quoted by state-run PTV as saying that it had been accepted. She said a notification regarding the resignation had also been issued.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly in its session on Monday also welcomed the announcement by Musharraf to step down as President by adopting a resolution.

The Chairman of Senate, Mian Mohamed Soomro, automatically took over as caretaker president.

According to Pakistan's constitution, the Chairman of the Senate or upper house of parliament takes charge as acting President on the post becoming vacant. An election to choose a new President must be held within 30 days, Law Minister Farooq Naek said.

During a televised address to the nation on Monday, Musharraf announced his resignation in the face of the ruling coalition's plans to launch impeachment proceedings against him in parliament. The ruling Pakistan People's Party and its main ally Muslim League-N had announced on August 7 that they planned to impeach Musharraf if he failed to resign.

In a defiant speech, Musharraf said he had prevented Pakistan from being declared a terrorist state.

International reaction to Musharraf's resignation was mixed, with the US hailing him as a strong ally against terrorism but Afghanistan welcoming his departure as a boost to democracy.

Musharraf has also vacated presidential palace after stepping down from the office of President. But it wasn't clear whether he would leave Pakistan to lead a retired life in some other country.

Pakistan's triumphant ruling coalition termed the former army chief's decision to resign "a victory for democratic forces" as impromptu celebrations by workers of PPP and PML(N) erupted across the country.

Musharraf has been a key ally of the US in its "war on terror" since he took power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He resigned after remaining in power for nine years.

JR/DT - PRESSTV