Costa Rica elects female president

Costa Rica has elected its first female president.



Laura Chinchilla has claimed victory for the ruling National Liberation Party following national elections.



Chinchilla has promised an open government of good faith.



Second-place candidate Otton Solis of the Citizen\'s Action Party has conceded defeat.



Chinchilla’s National Liberation Party forged its way to a nearly 2 to 1 lead.



The polls showed that Chinchilla won 46.8 per cent of the vote, with 84 per cent of election sites reporting.



Solis had 25.1 per cent vote count, while Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement had 20.9 per cent.