ROME, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Two thirds of Italian voters cast their ballots on the first of two days of polling in general election on Sunday, the Interior Ministry announced.

    By the time the first day of balloting ended on Sunday at 10:00 p.m. (2000 GMT), two thirds or 66.5 percent of the 47 million voters had voted, the ministry said.

    At the last parliamentary elections in May 2001, the turnout at the same time had been 81.4 percent, but that election took place on one day.

    A second day of voting will start from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. (0500-1300 GMT) and exit polls will quickly decide whether opposition leader Romani Prodi will return to power.

    The turnout on Sunday varied across the country, standing at 59.6 percent in the southern regions, 69.2 percent in the center and 71.5 percent in the north, the interior ministry said.

    Italy's centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was struggling for political survival against his centre-left opponent Prodi in the election. Enditem