Greece re-elects Tsipras

Greek Prime Minister-elect Alexis Tspiras claimed a solid victory in national elections yesterday, saying the result gave his Syriza party a new and clear four-year mandate.

Speaking to cheering crowds in a central Athens square, a beaming Tspiras said he "felt vindicated" after quitting in August to start on a clean slate with voters after a revolt in his party against a multi-billion-euro bailout with international lenders.

"In Europe today, Greece and the Greek people are synonymous with resistance and dignity, and this struggle will be continued together for another four years," Tspiras said.

"We have difficulties ahead, but we are also on firm ground," he added. "We wont recover from the struggle by magic, but it can happen with hard work."

The election that Syriza party won is Greece's fifth election in six years.

The conservative New Democracy party earlier conceded defeat.

With half the votes counted, Syriza is projected to be just short of a majority but the Independent Greeks have agreed to join a coalition.

The latest figures give Syriza 35% of the vote, compared with New Democracy's 28%.

The snap election was called after Syriza lost its majority in August. This followed the signing of an unpopular new financial bailout deal with international creditors.

Turnout in this poll was just over 55%, down from 63% in January and low by Greek standards.

Tsipras said his decision to call an early election was vindicated and that he had been given a clear, four-year mandate.

He said he would form a government with the nationalist Independent Greeks.

"Together we will continue the struggle we began seven months ago," he said.

New Democracy leader Vangelis Meimarakis earlier conceded defeat to Tsipras, saying: "I congratulate him and urge him to create the government which is needed."

Syriza supporters at the party's electoral headquarters in Athens earlier cheered and clapped as exit polls were announced.

The latest projection gives Syriza 144 seats in the 300-seat parliament, with New Democracy on 75. This is only five fewer than Tsipras's thumping victory in January's election, but again leaves him just short of an absolute majority.

The far-right Golden Dawn is set to be the third biggest party, with 7.1% of vote.

The BBC's Richard Galpin says this appears to be a much bigger victory than expected, but Tsipras will still face tough choices on the big reforms required for the economy.

In interviews leading up to the election, Mr Tsipras said he had put his country above his party. He said that had he not agreed to the three-year bailout, Greece would probably have had to leave the eurozone.