Estonia race

TALLINN (Reuter) - Estonia was set for tough political bargaining to choose its next leader after the first post-Soviet presidential elections ended in deadlock. Arnold Ruutel, the outgoing president who steered Estonia's successful drive for independence from Moscow, was the clear popular favourite in Sunday's polls with 42.7 per cent of the vote.

His main opponent, Lennart Meri, won 28.8 per cent. Mr Ruutel's failure to win a 50 per cent majority meant the presidency would be decided by a new parliament in which right-wing parties favouring Mr Meri appeared to have won more seats than Mr Ruutel's left-wing Safe Home alliance.