Zardari plays down Pakistan rift

The leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Asif Zardari, has played down a rift that has emerged between his faction and its major ally.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif withdrew his PML-N from the PPP-led coalition government on Tuesday.

The two sides had failed to reach accord on reinstating judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf last year.

Mr Zardari called the dispute a minor matter and said he expected Mr Sharif's party to re-join the government.