Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 16, 2007

Greeks Vote in General Elections Dominated by Wildfires
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1985D9C:A6F02AD83191E16070555D37E703BB429574F7DCC14957C0 Nearly 10 million
Greeks are eligible to cast votes Sunday, in polls that pit
conservative Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis against socialist leader
George Papandreou





Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis casts his ballot at a polling station
in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki during general elections on
Sunday, 16 Sept. 2007Greeks are voting in early general elections
dominated by the wildfires that charred much of the country and killed
more than 65 people last month.

Nearly 10 million Greeks are eligible to cast votes Sunday, in polls
that pitconservative Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis against
socialist leader George Papandreou. 

Opinion polls ahead of the vote suggested a tight race, with neither
candidate winning an outright parliamentary majority. 

Exit polls are set to be released immediately after polls close (at
1600 UTC).

Mr. Karamanlis announced the dissolution of parliament August 16th,
confident that his economic record would lead to an easy win.  But
days later, massive wildfires roared across the southern Peloponnese
peninsula and spread rapidly to the north. 

The inferno and loss of life it caused sparked public anger at
Karamanlis government, who some felt responded too slowly to the
disaster.

The tumultuous political campaign ended with mass rallies Friday, in
which the prime minister said he needed a clear victory in order to
continue with his economic reforms.

In a separate rally, Mr. Papandreou said the current government has
not fulfilled its promise to tackle corruption.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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