Chilean electoral authorities began closing the nearly 1,500 valid polling stations and counting the votes for the second round of Chile's presidential elections at 4 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Sunday, local media reported.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) throughout Chile.

Initial counts suggested a narrow difference between the two candidates who are campaigning to replace current president Ricardo Lagos.

Interior minister Francisco Vidal, said that the first official results will be published once 10 percent of the nation's 32,968 ballot boxes have been counted. He also said that by 9 p.m. (2400 GMT) Chile would be able to say which candidate -- Michelle Bachelet of the ruling party or Sebastian Pinera of the opposition- - will be the next president of Chile.

Source: Xinhua