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Conservatives lead in Greek poll Conservatives lead in Greek poll
(20 minutes later)
Early results in Greece's general election suggest the centre-right party of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to defeat its socialist rival.Early results in Greece's general election suggest the centre-right party of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to defeat its socialist rival.
With 50% of the votes counted, Mr Karamanlis' New Democracy has about 43% of the vote, against about 38% for the Pasok party led by George Papandreou. With some 50% of the votes counted, Mr Karamanlis' New Democracy has about 43% of the vote, against about 38% for the Pasok party led by George Papandreou.
But it remains unclear whether New Democracy will have an outright majority in the 300-seat parliament.But it remains unclear whether New Democracy will have an outright majority in the 300-seat parliament.
The vote was overshadowed by forest fires that killed dozens in August.The vote was overshadowed by forest fires that killed dozens in August.
Voter turnout was described as normal but reluctant in the Peloponnese peninsula south of Athens, heavily hit by the fires.Voter turnout was described as normal but reluctant in the Peloponnese peninsula south of Athens, heavily hit by the fires.
"We are all in dire straits, but we must vote so that [politicians] don't forget about us," Stella Lambropoulou told AFP news agency as she went to vote."We are all in dire straits, but we must vote so that [politicians] don't forget about us," Stella Lambropoulou told AFP news agency as she went to vote.
New election?New election?
Mr Karamanlis had been expected to triumph in the poll, after calling elections six months before the end of his term of office.Mr Karamanlis had been expected to triumph in the poll, after calling elections six months before the end of his term of office.
ELECTION FACTS Voting is compulsoryA total of 21 parties are involved in 56 constituenciesA total of 300 deputies are elected for four yearForty seats awarded to party with largest number of votes to make majorities more secureOther 260 seats divided on percentage of vote Voters' voicesELECTION FACTS Voting is compulsoryA total of 21 parties are involved in 56 constituenciesA total of 300 deputies are elected for four yearForty seats awarded to party with largest number of votes to make majorities more secureOther 260 seats divided on percentage of vote Voters' voices
But his support fell when many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the forest fires.But his support fell when many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the forest fires.
If New Democracy does not get the 151 seats it needs to have a parliamentary majority, Greece could be going back to the polls next month, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens.If New Democracy does not get the 151 seats it needs to have a parliamentary majority, Greece could be going back to the polls next month, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens.
Mr Karamanlis has said that he would call new elections in preference to forming a coalition with one or more of the three smaller parties, that have cleared the 3% hurdle required to enter parliament.Mr Karamanlis has said that he would call new elections in preference to forming a coalition with one or more of the three smaller parties, that have cleared the 3% hurdle required to enter parliament.
But what is certain is that Greeks have rejected the socialist leadership of Mr Papandreou, who will come under pressure to resign, having lost his second election in a row as Pasok leader, our correspondent adds.But what is certain is that Greeks have rejected the socialist leadership of Mr Papandreou, who will come under pressure to resign, having lost his second election in a row as Pasok leader, our correspondent adds.
He says the party that can gain most satisfaction from the poll is the nationalist grouping known as Laos, which may be responsible for denying Mr Karamanlis an immediate second term.He says the party that can gain most satisfaction from the poll is the nationalist grouping known as Laos, which may be responsible for denying Mr Karamanlis an immediate second term.
The Papandreou and Karamanlis families have dominated the Greek political scene for most of the past 50 years.The Papandreou and Karamanlis families have dominated the Greek political scene for most of the past 50 years.
However smaller parties have been gaining support in the run-up to the election.However smaller parties have been gaining support in the run-up to the election.