Berzins wins presidential election

RIGA -- Challenger Andris Berzins has defeated incumbent president Valdis Zatlers in the country's hotly contensted presidential election Thursday.

Zatlers had a comfortable lead until announcing Saturday that he would force a referendum on dissolving parliament. The referendum will be held July 23.

Berzins won with 53 votes in the 100-seat parliament, narrowly clearing the 51 vote margin needed in a second round of voting that day. Zatlers received 41 votes in favor.

Berzins denied charges that he would pander to the country's oligarchs.

"I will not follow the lead of oligarchs or special interests," Berzins told journalists after the vote.

Though widely popular with the general public, Zatlers' move to dissolve parliament just soured lawmakers just days before they were due to vote on his re-election.