Leader of conservative New Democracy party and incumbent Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis casts his ballot at a polling station in Thessaloniki October 4, 2009. Greeks voted on Sunday in an election that the socialist opposition was expected to win due to discontent with the government's failure to crack down on corruption and its handling of the economic crisis.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ATHENS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The general elections in Greece opened at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) Sunday, and some 9.8 million eligible voters will choose the country's new government.

    The vote, which will run until 7 p.m. (1600 GMT), will see a fierce competition between the ruling conservative New Democracy and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, known by its Greek acronym PASOK.

    Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis called the snap election two years ahead of the end of his term in 2011 amid government scandals and economic woes.

Leader of conservative New Democracy party and incumbent Greek Prime minister Costas Karamanlis greets supporters outside a a polling station in Thessaloniki October 4, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The latest polls showed that Karamanlis' conservatives are trailing main opposition PASOK led by George Papandreou by 6 to 7 percent and the People's Orthodox Alarm (LAOS) is expected to enter parliament with a 4 to 5 percent of the vote.

    "Together we can, and we shall change Greece. Today is the day of democracy. The citizens will vote for a better tomorrow," said PASOK leader George Papandreou after casting his vote on Sunday noon, at a polling station in the Nea Erythrea northern suburb of Athens.

    However, it was still hard to predict whether Papandreou would get an overall majority needed to form a government.

    If no party wins enough votes to obtain 151 seats in the 300-member parliament and none can form a coalition with other political parties, new elections will have to be called.

    According to the Interior Ministry, a preliminary result is expected around the midnight, and the final outcome will be available early Monday morning.

    Karamanlis said he was confident of the Greek voters' sense of responsibility in "choosing the best" when he cast his vote on Sunday morning. "Victory is in our hands," said the prime minister.

    Each party must win at least 3 percent of the vote to enter the parliament. Following the New Democracy and PASOK, the Greek Communist Party KKE is expected to be another top winner in the poll.

    "Trust us that we'll fight together for a better future for the people," said KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga as she voted Sunday.

    Coalition of the Left leader Alexis Tsipras asked voters to choose for "a change" in the country's political future.

    After voting, Green Ecologist leader Nikos Chrisogelos expressed confidence that his party would be represented in the parliament for the first time. But polls shows that his party will probably not pass the 3 percent hurdle to enter the parliament.

Greek PM defends his choices in last rally ahead of Sunday's elections

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis attends a pre-election rally of his New Democracy party in Athens, capital of Greece, on Oct. 2, 2009. Greeks will vote in a national election on Sunday, while the New Democracy party trailed the main opposition PASOK in recent polls by 7 percent. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) Photo Gallery>>>

    ATHENS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis urged voters here Friday night to trust his conservative New Democracy party (ND) again in order to guide Greece out of the international financial crisis.Full story 

Greek main opposition leader calls for change, steady gov't before elections

Greek main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement Party (PASOK) leader, George Papandreou addresses at his last pre-election rally in Athens on October 1, 2009. Greek main opposition PASOK held its rally in Athens on Oct. 1 ahead of the General elections on Sunday.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ATHENS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pledging "a new beginning" for the country, Greek main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou called on Greeks Thursday night to cast their votes in favor of the socialists in Oct. 4 general elections and hand them over a wide majority in the new parliament in order to form a strong and steady government.Full story