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Conservatives 'lead Greek vote' Conservatives 'lead Greek vote'
(about 1 hour later)
Exit polls in Greece's general election suggest the centre-right party of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to defeat its socialist rival.Exit polls in Greece's general election suggest the centre-right party of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is set to defeat its socialist rival.
The exit polls indicate Mr Karamanlis' New Democracy party will win about 42% of the vote, against about 38% for the Pasok party led by George Papandreou.The exit polls indicate Mr Karamanlis' New Democracy party will win about 42% of the vote, against about 38% for the Pasok party led by George Papandreou.
If confirmed, the results would give New Democracy an absolute majority in the 300-seat parliament. It is unclear whether the results would give New Democracy an absolute 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.
"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.
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' voices
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.
But his support fell when many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the fires. But his support fell when many Greeks felt the government was slow to react to the forest fires.
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.
The far-right Laos party is expected to cross the 3% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament for the first time. The exit polls suggest the far-right Laos party crossed the 3% threshold needed to gain seats in parliament for the first time.