DUBLIN, Ireland, May 18 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Bertie Ahern appeared on course for a second term in office as his centrist Fianna Fail party fared strongly in initial results in Ireland's parliamentary elections.
In partial official results, Fianna Fail won half of the first 12 seats announced Saturday.
The early results confirmed exit polls, which gave Fianna Fail 43 percent of the vote. The polls also suggested the conservative opposition group Fine Gael fare poorly with around 22 percent, and Labor was third with 12 percent.
There was also an increase in support for Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, up to 7 percent from 2.5 percent, according to exit polls conducted for RTE radio.
The Dail, or lower house of parliament, has a total of 166 seats, and complete results were expected Sunday.
