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Austria votes in general election Austria votes in general election
(about 11 hours later)
Voters in Austria are going to the polls to elect a new parliament. Voters in Austria have gone to the polls to elect a new parliament.
Opinion polls suggest the centre-right coalition led by Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has a small lead over the opposition Social Democrats. Early exit polls suggest the opposition Social Democrats are very narrowly ahead of the centre-right coalition led by Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.
They also indicate that Joerg Haider's far-right alliance will be struggling to win the 4% of the vote needed to secure parliamentary seats. Opinion polls before the weekend indicated that Joerg Haider's far-right alliance would struggling to win the 4% of the vote needed to secure seats.
Analysts say the chancellor's controversial coalition with Mr Haider is almost certain to come to an end.Analysts say the chancellor's controversial coalition with Mr Haider is almost certain to come to an end.
More than six million Austrian voters are eligible to vote for the 183-seat parliament. More than six million Austrian voters were eligible to vote for the 183-seat parliament.
Polls indicate Mr Schuessel's People's Party has the support of 38% of voters - just ahead of the opposition. The latest opinion polls indicated Mr Schuessel's People's Party had the support of 38% of voters - just ahead of the opposition.
Tight raceTight race
The far-right Freedom Party - a rival to Mr Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria that has run an anti-immigrant campaign - is running neck-and-neck with Greens for third place, with about 10%.The far-right Freedom Party - a rival to Mr Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria that has run an anti-immigrant campaign - is running neck-and-neck with Greens for third place, with about 10%.
Alfred Gusenbauer leads the charge for the opposition Alfred Gusenbauer leads the charge for the oppositionTwo other parties - Martin's list and the Communists - are also struggling to score 4%.
Two other parties - Martin's list and the Communists - are also struggling to score 4%.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the rare is so close that the shape of a future governing coalition is hard to predict.The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the rare is so close that the shape of a future governing coalition is hard to predict.
Mr Schuessel took office in 2000 in a controversial alliance with the far-right Freedom Party, then led by Mr Haider. He won re-election in 2002.Mr Schuessel took office in 2000 in a controversial alliance with the far-right Freedom Party, then led by Mr Haider. He won re-election in 2002.
The Social Democrats, led by Alfred Gusenbauer, accuse the chancellor of fostering social divisions.The Social Democrats, led by Alfred Gusenbauer, accuse the chancellor of fostering social divisions.
Chancellor Schuessel is thought to favour an alliance with the Greens if his party wins.Chancellor Schuessel is thought to favour an alliance with the Greens if his party wins.
But our correspondent says many Austrians prefer the idea of a grand coalition between the People's Party and the Social Democrats.But our correspondent says many Austrians prefer the idea of a grand coalition between the People's Party and the Social Democrats.