ROME, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Italy's centre-right Premier Silvio Berlusconi appeared to have pulled off a surprise win in national elections on Monday after centre-left supporters initially believed victory was theirs, according to Italian News Agency ANSA.

    Mid-evening projections carried out by the Nexus polling agency for RAI state TV gave Berlusconi a tiny advantage in both the 315-seat Senate and the 630-seat Lower House of Deputies.

    A Nexus projection for the Lower House, based on 89 percent of the vote, gave the premier and his allies 49.8 percent and Prodi's Union alliance 49.7 percent.

    Another Nexus projection, based on 98 percent of votes cast for the Senate, gave Berlusconi 158 seats and Prodi 151.

    On Monday, initial exit polls had given the centre left a narrow victory in both houses. Coalitions need a majority in the Senate and the Lower House to govern.

    Turnout was high - some 83.6 percent - in the two days of elections, which many analysts said amounted to a referendum on Berlusconi and his performance during the last five years.

    The feeling on the Milan stock market when a centre-left win seemed to emerge was positive. The Mib30 blue chip index closed up 1.3 percent and even shares in Berlusconi's Mediaset TV group climbed.

    Final election results were expected by late on Monday. Enditem