Greece's main opposition party holds elections of new leader

ATHENS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Greece's main opposition centre-right New Democracy (ND) party holds elections for a new leadership on Sunday after a defeat to socialist PASOK on October 4 general elections.

Former ministers of foreign affairs Dora Bakoyanni and Antonis Samaras are the big favorites in succeeding former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, while northern Greece's Thessaloniki prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis is running as an outsider.

Voting started on early morning and polls close at 9:30 p.m. local time (1930 GMT). The closing time was extended by two and a half hours due to a technical glitch at the on-line system and results are expected on Monday morning.

According to first estimates, about half a million ND supporters took part in the elections inside and outside the country, since there were 64 voting polls set up in European countries from London to Rome.

It's the first time in the party's history that a leader, the 7th since the 1970s, is elected by all registered supporters and not by ND's members of parliament.

"I call on everyone to join in this great celebration, which marks a new beginning of hope for New Democracy and Greece," Bakogianni said after casting her vote in central Athens.

"Tomorrow a new era begins for the party and our country," Samaras agreed from southern Greece, where he cast his vote.

In case no candidate gathers a 50+1 percent of the vote, new elections will be held on December 5.