Neck and neck in Lithuanian presidential race

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2004

VILNIUS (AFP) — Former Lithuanian head of state Valdas Adamkus and the Baltic country's first post-Soviet prime minister Kazimira Prunskiene were neck and neck in the race for the presidency, according to early results from elections that have been clouded by a corruption scandal.

With 550,000, or almost half, of the votes counted after Sunday's decisive run-off vote, Adamkus had 50.25 percent, against 49.75 percent for Prunskiene, according to results published by the election committee website.

The early elections were called to replace former president Rolandas Paksas, who was impeached on April 6 for shady dealings with a Russian businessman in violation of the constitution.

Lithuania's election commission chief Zenonas Vaigauskas told AFP the result was...