Tycoon wins Panama presidential poll

PANAMA CITY: Supermarket tycoon Ricardo Martinelli swept to victory in Panama's presidential election on Sunday, bucking a trend of left-wing leadership wins in Latin America.

The conservative opposition candidate's business experience swayed voters worried about their livelihoods in a global recession that has stunted Panama's recent stellar economic growth.

The electoral tribunal declared Martinelli the winner as results showed him taking an unassailable lead of 61 percent of the votes, against 37 percent for Balbina Herrera of the ruling center-left Revolutionary Democratic Party.