Latvia elects doctor as president

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The Latvian parliament has elected a leading medical doctor, Valdis Zatlers, as the Baltic state's next president.

He becomes the third president of Latvia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, taking over from Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

He received 58 of the 98 ballots cast, beating former constitutional court judge Aivars Endzins.

Mr Zatlers, 52, has been criticised for taking cash payments from patients, but he denies any wrongdoing.

He was nominated by the four-party, centre-right government coalition.

The president in Latvia has some legislative powers and represents the country abroad.