Portugal goes to the polls in key presidential vote

A record 10 candidates are competing in Portuguese presidential elections with centre right politician and TV pundit Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tipped to win. Mr de Sousa, 67, is known as "Professor Marcelo" to his supporters and has been involved in politics since his youth, helping to establish the centre-right Social Democratic Party. Polls suggest he will surpass the 50% mark required for an outright win in Sunday's voting. If none of the 10 candidates passes this threshold, a run-off will be held on 14 February. If elected he will succeed Anibal Cavaco Silva, a conservative who served two consecutive five-year terms. The first results are expected at about 19:00 GMT, an hour after polls close. A centre-right coalition won the most votes in October's election but lost its overall majority in November to be replaced by an alliance of left-wing parties which rejected its programme in parliament. Portugal was one of the countries hardest hit by the crisis in the eurozone, accepting an international bailout in exchange for sweeping cuts.