Greek opposition set for victory | BBC

[Ediacara]

Greek opposition set for victory


Karamanlis is now certain to
become Greece's next prime minister

Polls have closed in the Greek general elections, with exit polls suggesting a clear victory for the opposition.

The polls gave conservative leader Costas Karamanlis' New Democracy party a lead of about 5% over the socialists led by George Papandreou.

If the results are confirmed, Mr Papandreou's Pasok party will lose power after 11 years in office.

Key election issues have been the preparations for the Athens Olympics, and talks on the future of Cyprus.

New Democracy supporters have been driving through the streets of Athens with the party flags waving from the windows, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports from the Greek capital.

He says crowds also gathered outside the conservatives' headquarters waiting to anoint Mr Karamanlis as the country's new prime minister.

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