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SANTIAGO (AFP) - Socialist Michelle Bachelet became Chile's first-ever female president after sweeping the national election with 53 percent of the vote, according to partial results.

Chileans are heading to the polls to vote in a second round of elections that will give them a new president. The candidate leading the opinion polls is Michelle Bachelet, of the governing centre-left coalition. If she wins, she will be Chile's first female president. Her rival is conservative billionaire businessman Sebastian Pinera, who says it is time for a change of government. The election is the fourth since the country returned to democracy in 1990 after 17 years of military rule.

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Socialist Michelle Bachelet led Chile's presidential elections on Sunday but had not won enough votes to avoid a potentially tight January run-off, probably against rightist candidate Sebastian Pinera. With more than half of votes counted, the government Electoral Service said Bachelet had 45.68 percent, trailed by rightist opposition candidate Pinera with 25.83 percent. Experts and officials said a run-off was almost certain. If elected Bachelet, a separated mother of three who was tortured and exiled during Chile's 17-year dictatorship, will become Chile's first woman president. Joaquin Lavin, another candidate from Chile's divided conservatives who have been...

SANTIAGO, Chile - Instead of macho handshakes on the campaign trail, the leading candidates in Chile's presidential race are exchanging kisses on the cheek this election year. In this socially conservative country where domestic violence is common and women earn much less than men, the two top parties have selected female nominees, virtually ensuring that Chile will get its first female head of state. Opinion polls show the two women, Michelle Bachelet and Soledad Alvear, commanding huge leads over all other rivals for the Dec. 12 elections. "There are still some macho attitudes in our country, but all opinion polls...