Voting is underway in Portugal’s general elections, which have been called early after President Jorge Sampaio dissolved parliament.

Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes was submitting his resignation to Portugal’s president today, and cancelled talks with France’s prime minister.

European leaders going to tomorrow’s state funeral for victims of the Madrid train bombings will have their first opportunity to meet face-to-face the newly-elected Socialists, and perhaps get a glimmer of Spain’s future foreign policy.

Portugal must tighten its security preparations for the European football championships in June and a major music festival following the Madrid train bombings, President Jorge Sampaio said today.