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The leader of Greece's pro-bailout New Democracy party, set to win most seats in a general election, says he wants to form a government as soon as possible.
Antonis Samaras said Greeks had voted to stay in the euro, and called for a "national salvation government".
The leader of the anti-bailout Syriza party, Alexis Tsipras, which came a close second, agreed Mr Samaras should be first to try to form a coalition.
Greece's future in the euro could depend on the coalition talks.
With 60% of votes counted, interior ministry projections put New Democracy on 30.1% of the vote (130 seats), Syriza on 26.5% (70) and the socialist Pasok on 12.6% (33).
New Democracy leader Mr Samaras said: "The Greek people voted today to stay on the European course and remain in the eurozone.
"There will be no more adventures. Greece's place in Europe will not be put in doubt."
"The sacrifices of the Greek people will bring the country back to prosperity," he promised.
And so this second election in two months, seen as the most important in Greece's modern history, is going to go right down to the wire.
The top two parties - with very different visions of how to deal with the Eurozone crisis - are neck and neck. For New Democracy supporters, who were hoping for a clear win, it will be a nervous few hours.
Their leader Antonis Samaras had portrayed this election as a choice between staying in the euro or going back to the drachma.
But that's not how Syriza and its supporters see it - they believe it's about promoting a different kind of economic policy to help Greece out of a spiral of recession and unemployment.
Syriza supporters gathered at Propilea in front of Athens University began to chant slogans when the first exit poll numbers were revealed.
For now, the politicians are watching and waiting and probably biting their nails. Whoever wins, however narrowly, gets an extra 50 seats in parliament. It could be the decisive difference.
But the winner still needs to put together a coalition government which is strong enough to last - and that may not be so easy.
He also said Greece would "honour its obligations".
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says that suggests Mr Samaras wants to press ahead with spending cuts demanded by the country's international creditors.
European leaders have warned that if a new Greek government rejected the bailout, the country could be forced to abandon the single currency.
While the radical-left Syriza and other smaller parties have opposed the bailout, New Democracy and Pasok said they would keep it in a renegotiated form.
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Sunday that Greece must stick to its agreements with international creditors - but he suggested Athens might be given more time to comply with them.
"There cannot be substantial changes to the agreements, but I can well imagine talking again about timelines," he said.
Mr Tsipras, the Syriza leader, congratulated Mr Samaras on his apparent victory, and said he had the right to try to form a government.
But he appeared to rule out joining such a coalition, saying Syriza would "not sacrifice our position" of opposition to the austerity programme.
If the projections from the interior ministry are proved correct, New Democracy should be able to build a majority coalition with the socialist Pasok, benefiting from a rule which gives the leading party 50 extra seats in the 300-seat chamber.
However, coalition talks may not be easy. After a first, inconclusive election six weeks ago, each of the main parties tried but failed to form a coalition government.
If pro-austerity parties (Pasok and New Democracy) form coalition
If anti-austerity parties (Syriza and others) form coaltion
If there is a hung parliament
The leader of Pasok, Evangelos Venizelos, proposed a broad four-party coalition including New Democracy, Pasok, the Democratic Left and Syriza.
"No decision can be taken without this national unity," he said.
Analysts suggested Mr Venizelos had doubts over the viability of a coalition with a narrow majority.
When his party was in power it suffered numerous defections and rebellions as it tried to impose unpopular austerity measures.
Our correspondent, Mark Lowen, says that with such a strong showing by Syriza, Greece could be in for an autumn of discontent by opponents of the bailout deal.
Four other anti-bailout parties look set to take between 60 and 70 seats. They include the far-right Golden Dawn, which looked set to secure about 7% of the vote.
Sunday's vote is being watched around the world, amid fears that a Greek exit from the euro could spread contagion to other eurozone members and deepen the turmoil in the global economy.
Tough austerity measures were attached to the two international bailouts awarded to Greece, an initial package worth 110bn euros (£89bn; $138bn) in 2010, then a follow-up last year worth 130bn euros.
Polls suggest most Greeks want to be rid of the bailout and its onerous conditions, but want to stay in the euro.
Various European leaders have warned they cannot do both.
New Democracy
Keep bailout but more time for restructuring and EU help to stimulate growth
19%
Socialist (Pasok)
Keep bailout but subject it to a "structured and courageous revision"; implement fiscal adjustment over three years, not two
13%
Syriza
Cancel bailout, nationalise banks and freeze privatisations, but stay inside eurozone
17%
Independent Greeks
Reject bailout but remain in eurozone
11%
Democratic Left
Gradually disengage from bailout but stay in eurozone
6%
Communist (KKE)
Unilaterally cancel debt, leave the EU and restore Greece's own currency
9%
Golden Dawn
Tear up the bailout but not necessarily abandon the euro
7%
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