Pakistan's presidential favourite Zardari under guard

Islamabad: Pakistan's presidential front-runner Asif Ali Zardari has moved into a tightly guarded government compound over security fears, officials said.

Zardari, the widower of murdered former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, is widely expected to win the September 6 presidential election.

Zardari is now staying at a hilltop mansion in Islamabad's government quarters "for security reasons", Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said.

He did not elaborate, but an intelligence official said there had been reports that the presidential hopeful could be the target of an attack.