Singapore PM's candidate wins presidency

SINGAPORE - Singapore's former deputy prime minister Tony Tan was elected president of the Southeast Asian city-state after a recount, with the slim margin seen as a blow for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who had backed him in the fight for the largely ceremonial role.

Tony Tan, who was previously executive director of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, received 35.19 percent of the 2.15 million votes cast, just slightly more than medical doctor Tan Cheng Bock who got 34.85 percent.

Investment adviser Tan Jee Say got 25.04 percent and the fourth candidate, former insurance executive Tan Kin Lian, got 4.91 percent in the election that took place on Saturday.