Lithuanian election heats up as nation readies for run-off

[dArKeR]

AFP , VILNIUS
Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004,Page 6

Lithuania faces a dramatic run-off presidential poll after former president Valdas Adamkus and a rival backed by impeached president Rolandas Paksas emerged from the pack in Sunday's first round election.

Adamkus, a 77-year-old former US emigre who returned to head Lithuania between 1998 and early last year, won 30.85 percent of the vote, with some 99 percent of all ballots counted, the country's election commission said yesterday.

Adamkus, who entered the race as favorite, will contest the second round vote against 61-year-old Kazimira Prunskiene, expected to take place towards the end of this month.

The country's first post-Soviet prime minister, Prunskiene, who came in second place with 21.35 percent of the vote, was apparently boosted by her backing from Paksas after initially lagging in the opinion polls.

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