Greek conservatives name new leader

More than half a million of registered ND voters cast a ballot to choose the new leader.

Greece's conservative party on Monday chose Antonis Samaras to replace former leader and ex-Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who quit after losing the country's general election on October 4.

Former culture minister Samaras, 58, beat one-time foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis and Thessaloniki province head Panayotis Psomiadis in the race to take over the reins of the centre-right New Democracy party.

Bakoyannis, Samaras' closest rival for the post, conceded defeat in the early hours of Monday.

More than half a million of registered ND voters cast a ballot to choose the new leader.