Polls open in Italian election

Italians began voting today in parliamentary elections pitting media mogul and conservative premier Silvio Berlusconi against centre-left leader Romano Prodi in what has been a close race.

Skies were sunny across much of Italy as polls opened for the first of two days of voting after a nasty campaign. The first exit poll results are expected after polling stations close at 3pm (1pm Irish time) tomorrow, with first partial results hours later.