Socialists appear victorious in Greece

ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The New Democracy party said Sunday that Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has conceded defeat to Socialist leader George Papandreu in Greece's election.

The New York Times said the reported decision by Karamanlis came after Papandreu's Panhellenic Socialist Movement party took a sizable lead over the New Democracy party with 24 percent of the total 10 million election votes counted.

Socialists reportedly earned 43.4 percent of the early vote tally while Karamanlis' party earned 35.9 percent.

Following the prime minister's concession call to his opponent, Socialist supporters celebrated in Athens and Socialist official Anna Diamantopoulou spoke on television about her party's goals.

"We will bring about significant change," Diamantopoulou said. "There won't be any miracles, but the looting of the state has ended."

The nation's constitution requires the two major parties to agree on the election of a president, giving either party an effective veto, CNN reported Sunday.