News In Brief

Foes of Panama's new leader stage inauguration protest

Thousands of protesters marched in the Plaza of the Cathedral yesterday to protest today's inauguration of President-elect Nicolas Ardito Barletta. Mr. Barletta was elected May 6 with the support of the military and the official Revolutionary Democratic Party by a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes out of the 600,000 cast. His opponents claim Arnulfo Arias Madrid was deprived of victory in a vote count behind closed doors.