Conservatives oust socialists in Greek polls

With some 96 percent of ballots counted, New Democracy won 45.51 percent of the vote compared to 40.58 percent for the Panhellenic Socialist Party (PASOK) which has ruled Greece for 19 of the past 22 years, the interior ministry said early Monday.

PASOK leader George Papandreou, whose party has won three consecutive mandates since 1993, conceded defeat shortly after the exit polls were released.

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"The party of New Democracy has won the election. I wish ND leader Costas Karamanlis good luck in his work," said Papandreou, a former foreign minister.

New Democracy was on track to command a solid majority in the 300-strong parliament with 165 seats, with PASOK holding 117 seats.