However, the apparent lack of a clear winner was set to lead to a new round of the complex coalition talks that have become the norm in Lithuania, a former Soviet republic which joined the European Union in 2004.

The Conservatives won 21 percent of the vote, Paksas' populist Order and Justice Party around 14 percent and Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas' Social Democrats just over 13 percent, the poll by the RAIT institute for the Baltic News Service showed.

Next, with just over 11 percent, came the National Resurrection Party, founded by reality TV producer Arunas Valinskas in what he called a bid to restore Lithuanians' faith in lawmakers -- parliament is one of the least popular institutions in this country of 3.4 million people.

The populist Labour Party -- run by controversial ex-minister Viktor Uspaskich, who has faced a fraud probe -- won just under 11 percent.

Initial official results were due around 10:00 pm (1900 GMT), the national elections commission said.

Conservative leader Andrius Kubilius, whose party campaigned on a platform of economic reform and family values, told AFP he had "big doubts" about governing with Order and Justice.

He also spoke of concerns with "the kind of Social Democrats we have now," but sources said coalition talks had already begun on an anti-populist "rainbow coalition".

Paksas, meanwhile, told AFP he was aiming to work with anyone who had the support of the people.

"I don't want to talk to the Social Democrats and Conservatives, but if the voters give them enough seats, I'll have to," he said.

Ex-stunt pilot Paksas, a former prime minister, was elected president in 2003, but a year later became Europe's first head of state to be removed by impeachment after he was embroiled in a corruption scandal.

He has always denied any wrongdoing, but is barred from any office requiring an oath. Party deputy Valentinas Mazuronis is his pick for premier.

"My ultimate goal is to return to the post of president, so justice will be done," said Paksas, who wants to have his impeachment overturned.

Order and Justice's pledges include tax cuts, wage and pension hikes and efforts to battle rising prices, striking a chord with voters as an economic boom tails off in the face of rampant inflation and the global crisis.

The Social Democrats have ruled since 2001, building coalitions before and since the last elections in 2004.

A 2006 reshuffle made Kirkilas Lithuania's 11th prime minister since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Kirkilas' government was made up of five parties, but had a narrow hold on parliament and, according to critics, ducked much-needed, but unpopular, public sector and tax reforms.

None of his allies from a handful of liberal and farmers' parties had cleared the five-percent hurdle required for seats in the 141-member parliament, the exit polls indicated.

Lithuania's 2.7 million voters were far from enthused by the election, with turnout around 46 percent, down from 47 percent in 2004, initial figures from the national elections commission showed.

Seventy lawmakers are elected by proportional representation from party lists and 71 in single-member constituencies where run-off rounds may be held on October 26.

The election race was combined with a referendum on delaying the shutdown of a controversial, Soviet-era nuclear power station which provides 70 percent of Lithuania's electricity, but which Vilnius agreed to close by 2010 when it was admitted to the EU.

The referendum, for which no results were immediately available, is not binding, but supporters say the goal is to convince the EU to shift the deadline to 2012, when new power links would be ready.

EU diplomats have said Brussels will not let Vilnius breach its membership treaty.