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Canada Conservatives 'set to win' Canada's Conservatives re-elected
(about 2 hours later)
Voting has ended in Canada's third general election in four years, with early results showing victory for the ruling Conservatives. Canada's ruling Conservative Party has been re-elected to another minority government, according to early results from Canada's elections agency.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has headed a minority government since 2006, called the snap poll in a bid to secure a majority in parliament. The Conservatives, led by Stephen Harper, won 143 seats, an increase but still short of the 155 needed for a parliamentary majority.
The main challenge has come from the Liberals led by Stephane Dion. The opposition Liberal Party, led by Stephane Dion, has won 78 seats, a loss of more than 15 seats.
However, despite winning more seats, Mr Harper still looks likely to fall short of a parliamentary majority. It will be Canada's third minority government in four years.
The first polls opened at 0830 local time (1100 GMT), with the last polling stations closing on the Pacific coast at 0200 GMT. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the snap poll - the country's third election in four years - in a bid to secure a majority in parliament.
Early results indicate that the Conservatives can expect to win 144 seats in the 308- seat parliament, falling short of the 155 needed for a majority. Early results indicated that his Conservatives had taken 38% of the vote, the Elections Canada website reported.
Before this election, the Conservatives held 127 seats. The Liberals secured 26.3% of the vote.
Canada was the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis.Canada was the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis.
Conservative MP Jason Kenny hailed his party's result in the present circumstances.Conservative MP Jason Kenny hailed his party's result in the present circumstances.
"Every other incumbent government in the Western world is in serious political trouble with the economic situation," he said."Every other incumbent government in the Western world is in serious political trouble with the economic situation," he said.
"Ours is probably the only one that could be re-elected - let alone with an increased mandate.""Ours is probably the only one that could be re-elected - let alone with an increased mandate."
Stephen Harper called the snap poll last monthStephen Harper called the snap poll last month
Mr Harper called the election last month amid hopes in his Conservative party that they could secure a majority.Mr Harper called the election last month amid hopes in his Conservative party that they could secure a majority.
But he was criticised during the campaign for not showing enough empathy with Canadians who have lost money during the upheaval on the stock markets.But he was criticised during the campaign for not showing enough empathy with Canadians who have lost money during the upheaval on the stock markets.
Mr Harper's main rival, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, had been promoting an ambitious green carbon tax plan. Liberal leader Stephane Dion had been promoting an ambitious green carbon tax plan.
But Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, the BBC's Lee Carter says.But Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, the BBC's Lee Carter says.
The Bloc Quebecois was locked in a close battle to retain its dominance in French-speaking Quebec.