Lithuanians vote

Lithuania's opposition Labour Party won the first round of yesterday's general elections with 28.3 per cent of votes cast against 20.45 per cent for the ruling centre-left coalition, a television exit poll showed.

The result, if confirmed by official results, would almost certainly mean a second round of voting on October 24 and analysts said a coalition between Labour and the ruling Social Democrats/Social Liberals was likely.

"This result means a coalition of some sort is inevitable," said political scientist Mindaugas Jurkynas.

The former Soviet state joined the European Union and NATO this year and its economy is growing at one of the fastest rates in Europe. But Labour leader Viktor Uspaskich has won support among the rural poor and 11 per cent of people who are jobless.

The charismatic 45-year-old Russian-born businessman, who is nicknamed "Mr Gherkin" because of his agri-products business, has promised higher living standards, better minimum wages and pensions and a war on political corruption.