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Conservatives lead Lithuania poll | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lithuania's main conservative opposition party has won most votes in the first round of general elections, exit polls suggest. | |
The Homeland Union took 21% of the vote, a poll for the Baltic News Service indicates. | |
However two allied populist parties - including one led by impeached ex-president Rolandas Paksas - are credited with a combined 25%. | |
The governing Social Democrats came third with just over 13%. | |
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 plant | Lithuanians also voted on closing a Russian nuclear plant |
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. | |
Although still banned from holding public office, analysts say 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. | |
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. | |
Turnout among Lithuania's 2.6 million registered voters was 46%, down one point from four years ago, electoral commission figures showed. | |
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 European Union wants Lithuania to shut the plant as planned at the end of 2009. | |
However, it provides 70% of Lithuania's electricity, and many voters do not want to increase their country's dependency on Russia. | |