Tan elected president in Singapore

Former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan won a narrow victory to become the country’s seventh president, a sign that the popularity of the South east Asian city-state’s ruling party is eroding.

The 71-year-old Mr Tan received 35% of about 2.1 million votes, edging former member of parliament Tan Cheng Bock by just 7,269 ballots, Elections Department chief Yam Ah Mee said early today.