
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 10, 1994                   TAG: 9405100132
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PANAMA CITY, PANAMA                                LENGTH: Short

PANAMANIANS PEACEFULLY ELECT LEADER

Panamanians celebrated Monday the peaceful election of a new president five years after a violent national election that was marred by fraud and annulled by dictator Manuel Noriega.

The winner, millionaire businessman Ernesto Perez Balladares, had managed the campaign of Noriega's hand-picked candidate in 1989, but he distanced himself from the ousted leader in this election.

Many credited President Guillermo Endara, whose party came in second, with ensuring Sunday's election was fair and peaceful. The independent Electoral Tribunal said no violence was reported. and there were only two arrests nationwide for electoral law violations. The smooth election ``opens a new chapter in Panama and strengthens democratic life and consciousness in the country,'' said Msgr. Osvaldo Padilla, the Vatican's representative in the Central American nation.

With about 90 percent of the ballots counted Monday, Perez Balladares, 47, was the clear winner with about a third of the vote, the tribunal said. Under Panamanian law, a majority is not required for victory.

by CNB