Pakistan's ruling party candidate has been elected prime minister, three days after the Supreme Court forced former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani from office.

Raja Pervez Ashraf, who won 211 votes in the 342-seat house, was a last-minute choice after a judge ordered the arrest of the preferred candidate.

But he inherits a troubled relationship between the civilian government, the judiciary and the all-powerful army.

Gilani's removal from office was seen as part of a long and bitter feud.

Observers say Pakistan can ill-afford its constitutional in-fighting - the country's economy is in crisis, as are relations with the US, and militants are waging a violent insurgency in tribal areas near the Afghan border.