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| Bertie Ahern wins Irish election | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Irish PM Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail party has won the country's general election, but narrowly failed to gain an overall majority in parliament. | |
| The party secured 78 seats in the 166-seat assembly, but saw a decline in the vote of its previous coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats. | |
| Mr Ahern now faces the prospect of tough talks with opposition parties to build a coalition government. | |
| He can count on two independents and two surviving Progressive Democrats. | |
| The main opposition Fine Gael polled well, but its potential coalition partners Labour and the Greens fared less well. | |
| As a result, not even these three combined could overtake Fianna Fail and the PDs. | As a result, not even these three combined could overtake Fianna Fail and the PDs. |
| Meanwhile, the PDs' leader Michael McDowell has retired from politics after losing his seat. | Meanwhile, the PDs' leader Michael McDowell has retired from politics after losing his seat. |
| Sinn Fein also polled badly and is set to end up with three or four seats, losing one in Dublin and failing to win target seats in Dublin and Donegal. | Sinn Fein also polled badly and is set to end up with three or four seats, losing one in Dublin and failing to win target seats in Dublin and Donegal. |
| "We'll dust ourselves down. We're in this for the long haul. We would like to have done better but we did our best," said party president Gerry Adams. | "We'll dust ourselves down. We're in this for the long haul. We would like to have done better but we did our best," said party president Gerry Adams. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We live in a democracy and like it or not the same number of people voted for FF this time around as last time JS, Dublin, Ireland Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY We live in a democracy and like it or not the same number of people voted for FF this time around as last time JS, Dublin, Ireland Send us your comments |
| In an interview on Irish broadcaster RTE's radio service on Saturday Mr Ahern, said his party had a "lot of options" open to it, but that stability was number one on his agenda, and the biggest consideration when it came to forming a government. | |
| There has been speculation he might seek an arrangement with Labour. | There has been speculation he might seek an arrangement with Labour. |
| However, this might prove less popular with his own parliamentary party because it would mean fewer ministerial jobs on offer than a combination with a smaller grouping. | However, this might prove less popular with his own parliamentary party because it would mean fewer ministerial jobs on offer than a combination with a smaller grouping. |
| The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional representation means that parties' representation in the Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches their percentage of the vote. | |
| The taoiseach (prime minister) has led a coalition government since 1997 - a period of sustained economic growth for the Republic. | |
| Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, refused to concede defeat on Friday night. | Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, refused to concede defeat on Friday night. |
| His party also put in strong performance, gaining about 20 seats. | His party also put in strong performance, gaining about 20 seats. |