New Panamanian president sworn in

PANAMA CITY, Panama, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Panama's new President Martin Torrijos Wednesday assumed the reins of a nation engaged in a three-way diplomatic spat, not to mention a flagging economy.

The 41-year-old Texas A&M University-educated economist and son of former Panamanian dictator Gen. Omar Torrijos (1968-1981) must immediately work to mend relations with Cuba and Venezuela following his predecessor's controversial decision to pardon four Cuban dissidents imprisoned in Panama.

Outgoing President Mireya Moscoso last week pardoned the men accused of plotting to assassinate Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in November 2000.

Among the men is one of Cuba's most wanted. Luis Posada Carriles is accused of orchestrating the 1976 crash of a Cuban passenger plane off the coast of Barbados.

Moscoso's pardons sparked a political backlash with Panama withdrawing its ambassador from Cuba and Havana deciding to sever political ties with Panama. Venezuela withdrew its ambassador from Panama on Friday.

Torrijos used his inaugural speech Wednesday to try and quell concerns over the diplomatic row and restore diplomatic ties with Cuba.