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Greece's Socialists win snap poll Greece's Socialists win snap poll
(about 7 hours later)
Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) has won the country's snap general elections. Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) has won an emphatic general election victory.
Outgoing PM Costas Karamanlis has congratulated Pasok leader George Papandreou and resigned as leader of the conservative New Democracy party.Outgoing PM Costas Karamanlis has congratulated Pasok leader George Papandreou and resigned as leader of the conservative New Democracy party.
With most ballots counted, the Socialists had more than 43% of the vote, to 35% for New Democracy. With 99% of votes counted, Pasok had nearly 44% of the vote, to 33.5% for New Democracy - its worst ever result.
Pasok needs 43% to win an absolute majority in parliament. It has been in opposition for more than five years. Pasok needed 43% to win an absolute majority in parliament. It has been in opposition for more than five years.
Mr Papandreou, 57, told cheering supporters in Athens: "We stand here united before the great responsibility which we undertake." With a projected 160 seats in the country's 300-member parliament, Mr Papandreou has said he will inject up to 3bn euros ($4.4bn: £2.7bn) into the economy in an effort to pull Greece out of a financial crisis.
He said Pasok had waged "a good fight to bring back hope and smile on Greeks' faces... to change the country's course into one of law, justice, solidarity, green development and progress". "Nothing is going to be easy. It will take a lot of hard work," he said. "I will always be upfront with the Greek people, so we can solve the country's problems together.
He added: "I know very well the great potential of this country. Potential that is being drowned by corruption, favouritism, lawlessness and waste. Potential that we will set free. US President Barack Obama was among the first international leaders to congratulate Mr Papandreou in a telephone call on Sunday night.
'Set free potential'
In his first speech after being elected, Mr Papandreou warned Greeks they faced tough times.
Profile: George Papandreou
"We stand here united before the great responsibility which we undertake," he told cheering supporters in Athens.
He said Pasok had waged "a good fight to bring back hope and smiles on Greeks' faces... to change the country's course into one of law, justice, solidarity, green development and progress".
"I know very well the great potential of this country. Potential that is being drowned by corruption, favouritism, lawlessness and waste. Potential that we will set free.
"I promise that I will do whatever is possible so that all Greeks will believe again that we can succeed, when we are united.""I promise that I will do whatever is possible so that all Greeks will believe again that we can succeed, when we are united."
Earlier, in a televised address, a humbled Mr Karamanlis said: "I assume responsibility for the result and will launch procedures for the election of a new party leader." The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says voters preferred Mr Papandreou's promised stimulus package to the programme of austerity proposed by Mr Karamanlis.
Earlier, a humbled Mr Karamanlis said: "I assume responsibility for the result and will launch procedures for the election of a new party leader."
The build-up to the election was lacklustre, correspondents say, with a recent poll suggesting nine out of 10 voters no longer trusted either party.
CoalitionCoalition
Mr Karamanlis called the election in early September, half way through his four-year term. Mr Karamanlis called the snap general election in early September, half way through his four-year term.
Mr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerityMr Karamanlis had warned of the need for austerity
He said he wanted a new mandate to tackle Greece's economic problems, but his opponents say he has failed to fulfil promises to clean up public office and to modernise the country. He said he wanted a new mandate to tackle Greece's economic problems, but his opponents said he failed to fulfil promises to clean up public office and to modernise the country.
The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals.The government has also been hit by a series of corruption scandals.
Mr Papandreou has promised he will build a green economy and bring in foreign experts to help Greece overcome its problems if elected.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant says voters preferred Mr Papandreou's promise of a 3bn Euro ($4.4bn:£2.7bn) stimulus package to the programme of austerity proposed by Mr Karamanlis.
Correspondents say the build-up to the election has been lacklustre. A recent poll has also suggested nine out of 10 voters no longer trust either party.
On Friday a small bomb exploded near Mr Karamanlis's final campaign rally.On Friday a small bomb exploded near Mr Karamanlis's final campaign rally.
The blast, which caused no injuries and only minor damage, was claimed by a leftist group calling itself The Fire Conspiracy Cells the following day.The blast, which caused no injuries and only minor damage, was claimed by a leftist group calling itself The Fire Conspiracy Cells the following day.
Forty seats are automatically awarded to the leading party and the remaining 260 are divided by proportional representation.Forty seats are automatically awarded to the leading party and the remaining 260 are divided by proportional representation.