Costa Rica is about to get its first woman president. Provisional results give the social democrat candidate Laura Chinchilla a substantial lead in the election.

Her opponents, right-winger Otto Guevara and centre-left candidate Ottón Solis, have acknowledged defeat and congratulated Ms Chinchilla.
 

The former vice-president looks likely to take around 47 percent of the vote. If she gets more than 40 percent, a second round of voting will not be required. Laura Chinchilla succeeds fellow social democrat Óscar Arias, who was no longer eligible to stand.
 

Sunday's elections in Costa Rica were not only for the presidency but also for two vice-presidents, members of the Legislative Assembly and local mayors.
 

Laura Chinchilla (photo: Wikipedia)