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Lithuania votes in comeback poll Conservatives lead Lithuania poll
(about 1 hour later)
Lithuanians have voted in a general election which could see the return to power of two disgraced ex-leaders. Lithuania's main conservative opposition party has won most votes in the first round of general elections, exit polls suggest.
Rolandas Paksas stepped down as president four years ago after being impeached - but his Order and Justice party could help form a new government. The Homeland Union took 21% of the vote, a poll for the Baltic News Service indicates.
A likely partner in a populist coalition would be the Labour party led by a Russian-born millionaire who is battling corruption allegations. However two allied populist parties - including one led by impeached ex-president Rolandas Paksas - are credited with a combined 25%.
The governing Social Democrats are in trouble because of the failing economy. The governing Social Democrats came third with just over 13%.
Lithuania - an ex-Soviet state - enjoyed an economic boom when it joined the European Union in 2004. Final results are not due until the second round vote, set for 26 October.
Tough coalition talks lie ahead. Correspondents say Mr Paksas' Order and Justice Party could form a populist partnership with Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich's Labour party.
Mr Uspaskich - known as Mr Gherkin because of his pickles business - is battling corruption allegations and is barred from leaving Lithuania.
Lithuanians also voted on closing a Russian nuclear plantLithuanians also voted on closing a Russian nuclear plant
But rampant inflation and slumping growth have eroded the feel-good factor, and correspondents say many voters have lost confidence in mainstream parties. Ex-stunt pilot Mr Paksas was the first European head of state to be removed by impeachment. He quit four years ago amid corruption allegations, which he has always denied.
Mr Paksas was the first European head of state to be removed by impeachment. He was accused of corruption - a charge he has always denied. Although still banned from holding public office, analysts say he could wield huge influence behind the scenes.
He is still banned from holding public office, but an exit poll suggests he could wield huge influence behind the scenes. The Social Democrats' four partners in the coalition government failed to break the 5% barrier to remain in parliament, according to the exit poll.
Correspondents say his party could go into coalition with the Russian-born millionaire Viktor Uspaskich's Labour party. In power since 2001, the Social Democrats were in trouble due to the failing economy of the ex-Soviet state, which joined the European Union in 2004.
Mr Uspaskich - who is known as Mr Gherkin because of his pickles business - resigned as economy minister when he came under formal investigation over his dealings with Russia. Turnout among Lithuania's 2.6 million registered voters was 46%, down one point from four years ago, electoral commission figures showed.
He is still under investigation and barred from leaving Lithuania. Voters also took part in a non-binding referendum on whether to shut a Chernobyl-style nuclear plant, but figures suggested the plebiscite could be invalid due to the low turnout.
The exit poll suggested the biggest party would be the populist parties' main rival - the conservative opposition Homeland Union - with the Social Democrats trailing. The European Union wants Lithuania to shut the plant as planned at the end of 2009.
Final results are not due until an expected second round of voting in some constituencies on 26 October. However, it provides 70% of Lithuania's electricity, and many voters do not want to increase their country's dependency on Russia.
Voters were also being asked about plans to close down a Chernobyl-style nuclear reactor.
The European Union wants Lithuania to close down the plant as planned at the end of 2009. But it provides 70% of Lithuania's electricity, and many voters do not want to increase their country's dependency on Russia.
However, as polls closed it was not clear if enough people had voted to make any referendum valid.