News In Brief

Week's delay expected on Panama election results

Panamanians will probably have to wait for a weeklong investigation of fraud allegations by a three-man tribunal before they know who will be declared winner of last Sunday's presidential election.

Diplomatic sources said that Nicolas Ardito Barletta, the official candidate of the military-backed government, is then expected to be declared the winner of Panama's first presidential election in 16 years.

The sources said they expect the powerful National Guard, which has virtually ruled Panama for the past 16 years, to exert strong pressure on the tribunal to name Mr. Barletta.