Victory of principles: India's 1st female president

Pratibha Patil has become the first female president of India in an election result described as an historic step forward for women in the south Asian nation.

MPs elected the 72-year-old lawyer by a landslide over the 84-year-old vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the largely ceremonial post of head of state.

"I am grateful to the voters ... I am grateful to the people of India, the men and women of India," Patil said outside her New Delhi home, as supporters danced in the streets and burst firecrackers in celebration.