Getting Count From Table In Linked Server Using Runtime Query

Hi Friends,
I want to have solution for one of the problem.
The requirement is like this :
I want to write stored procedure or function which will take parameter as SQL Server name, DB name, UserName and passwod.
This Stored proc will connect to Remote server using these parameters and will get the count of the rows in one of the table.
I created the connection using the linked server

EXEC sp_addlinkedserver @SerevrName,N'SQL Server'



EXEC sp_addlinkedsrvlogin @SerevrName, False, Null, @ServerUserName,@SerevrPws

Now I am trying to get count using following query :
set @SQLQuery = 'SELECT count(*) FROM [' + @SerevrName + '].' + @SrcDataBaseName +'.dbo.<<TableName>>'

But the question is that the execution goes this way :

exec(@SQLQuery)


Now how to assign this count value to some variable so that I can use it later ...?

Going forword I want to use cursor and get the rows in these table using cursor ...?
How can I assign values returned from any runtime query to temporary variable or table ...?


I tried another approach also:
I put remote connection and query execution in inner stored proc called usp_GetTableRowCount
set @SQLQuery = 'SELECT count(*) FROM [' + @SerevrName + '].' + @SrcDataBaseName +'.dbo.<<TableName>>'

exec(@SQLQuery)

and in outer stored proc : referenced the inner stored proc like this

exec @AFSDataRowCount = dbo.usp_GetTableRowCount <<Server Name>>,<<User Name>>, <<Password>>, <<DBName>>
The execution of dbo.usp_GetTableRowCount <<Server Name>>,<<User Name>>, <<Password>>, <<DBName>> gives me exact no of rows
but when I see value of AFSDataRowCount, I get 0.

Kindly help me out whereever I am making mistake or else pls tell me any other approach to follow.
Thanks in advance.