(RTTNews) - Voting began in the first round of Romania's presidential elections on Sunday morning, marking the country's first election for the head of state since Romania joined the European Union in January 2007.

Some 18 million registered voters from a population of 21.5 million are expected to cast their votes in about 21,400 polling stations spread across the country before polling closes at 19.00 GMT.

Though twelve candidates are contesting for the state's top post in Sunday's elections, the main fight is expected to be between incumbent center-right president Traian Basescu and his Social Democrat rival Mircea Geoana.

Earlier opinion polls suggested that Basescu and Geoana are most likely to face each other in a run-off on 6th October, which will b (continued...)