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Socialists concede Greek polls Greek PM claims election victory
(about 2 hours later)
Greece's socialists have conceded defeat in the country's election, with the New Democracy party of PM Costas Karamanlis claiming victory. The governing conservative party of PM Costas Karamanlis has claimed victory in Greece's general election, with opposition socialists conceding defeat.
Partial vote counts showed that George Papandreou's socialist Pasok party trailed Mr Karamanlis's centre-right party by five percentage points. With most votes counted, George Papandreou's socialist Pasok party trailed Mr Karamanlis's New Democracy party by about four percentage points.
Both New Democracy and Pasok have seen their share of the vote drop compared to the previous election in 2004. Figures indicated that New Democracy would win most seats in parliament, but would hold a smaller majority.
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.
Thanking his supporters for showing their "love and trust", Mr Papandreou said: "Pasok fought a battle and lost it." 'Clear mandate'
Speaking to supporters, Mr Karamanlis said his party had a "clear mandate" continue reforms. With more than three-quarters of the ballot counted, New Democracy had a 43% share of the vote compared with 38.5% for Pasok.
"I feel doubly responsible to be more effective and avoid mistakes," he added. This would correspond to 154 seats in the country's 300-member parliament - 11 fewer than they held after the last election, but enough for an absolute majority.
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.
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
Mr Karamanlis told his supporters that the party had been given a "clear mandate" to continue reforms.
"I feel doubly responsible to be more effective and avoid mistakes," he said.
Minutes earlier, Mr Papandreou had made a speech thanking his supporters for showing their "love and trust" in him, adding: "Pasok fought a battle and lost it."
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says Mr Papandreou is now under severe pressure to resign as Pasok leader, after his second election defeat in four years.
Former Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos has already declared his interest in becoming party leader.
Nation 'rallied'
Mr Karamanlis had been expected to triumph in the poll, after calling elections six months before the end of his term of office.
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.
It is not yet clear if New Democracy can win the absolute majority of the 300 seats in parliament. However, our correspondent says the prime minister rallied the nation with a steady, competent and compassionate display during the election campaign.
If New Democracy does not get the 151 seats it needs, Greece could be going back to the polls next month, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens. Mr Karamanlis has pledged to use his new four-year term to improve the economy, fight poverty, raise pensions and create a social state for the future.
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. He has also told the victims of the fires that the government's commitment to them would be fulfilled completely.
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.
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. But both main parties suffered a fall in votes this year, with smaller parties from the far left and right gaining support in the run-up to the election.
However, if New Democracy does fall short of the 151 seats necessary for a majority, Greece face new polls in October.
Mr Karamanlis has indicated he would not enter a coalition with smaller parties.