Taiwan president in Panama

The Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian, has arrived in Panama on the latest stop of his tour of Latin American countries.

Mr Chen was welcomed by his Panamanian counterpart, Mireya Moscoso, and several ministers at a state reception in Panama City.

He is due to address the country's Congress later on Tuesday.

Panama is one of several Latin American countries which maintain full diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than mainland China. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade proivince.

Mr Chen will end his tour by visiting Honduras later this week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service