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Exit polls place Berlusconi ahead Exit polls place Berlusconi ahead
(about 1 hour later)
Veteran centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, 71, has a narrow lead in Italy's general election, exit polls suggest. Veteran centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi has a narrow lead in Italy's general election, exit polls suggest.
Mr Berlusconi, a billionaire, is bidding for a third term in office. His main rival is centre-left leader Walter Veltroni, formerly Rome mayor. Mr Berlusconi, 71, a billionaire, is bidding for a third term in office. His main rival is centre-left leader Walter Veltroni, formerly mayor of Rome.
Exit polls showed Mr Berlusconi's bloc about 2% ahead for both houses. Exit polls showed Mr Berlusconi's bloc marginally ahead for both the lower house and the Senate.
The election was held three years ahead of schedule, following the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition.The election was held three years ahead of schedule, following the collapse of Romano Prodi's centre-left coalition.
Correspondents caution that it is too early to predict a winner with any certainty. With the economy a key election issue, both men had promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy.
The new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II. Exit polls have proved unreliable in the past in Italy, correspondents caution. Official results may not be issued until Tuesday.
Close call
An exit poll by Italy's Sky TV gave Mr Berlusconi's bloc a two percentage-point lead for the lower house, and a three-point lead for the Senate.
A second poll for state broadcaster Rai also gave his block a marginal edge.
Mr Veltroni had been closing the gap with his rival in opinion polls
Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. The next government faces the task of reviving Italy's ailing economy. Zero growth is forecast for the coming year.Tricky coalition talks are expected in the coming days. The next government faces the task of reviving Italy's ailing economy. Zero growth is forecast for the coming year.
Although Italy faces a massive public debt, both candidates promised tax cuts and handouts to voters, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome.
Italy's economy has been suffering from low productivity and a strong euro, and analysts say young people, pensioners and low-income workers are feeling the pressure.
Some 158 different parties contested the regional and national polls, including Mr Berlusconi's new conservative People of Freedom (PDL) and Mr Veltroni's recently formed Democratic Party (PD).
Mr Berlusconi has served two terms as prime minister, last resigning in May 2006.
The billionaire, believed to be Italy's richest man, is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes the successful football club AC Milan.
Mr Veltroni, 52, is a former communist who served for seven years as mayor of Rome, before taking over the leadership of the centre-left coalition led by Mr Prodi, after his government collapsed in January.
The new government will be Italy's 62nd since World War II.