In pictures: French presidential poll

Voting has got off to a slow start in the first round of the French presidential election, after a lacklustre campaign.

Front-runners Chirac and Jospin are expected to reach the second round - but they may suffer from a lack of voter enthusiasm

National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen may be one of the beneficiaries of the lack of support for mainstream candidates

Veteran far-left campaigner Arlette Laguiller is running for the fifth time

By midday on Sunday, just 21% of the electorate had turned out

Monks from the Monts des Cats monastery in northern France were among those who did vote on Sunday morning

People were also voting in overseas territories, including the island of Reunion