Lithuania votes to join EU

The people of the Baltic republic of Lithuania are voting in a two-day referendum to decide whether to join the European Union.

Opinion polls have consistently shown strong support for EU membership, but there has been concern over whether enough voters will turn out to render the referendum valid.

Lithuania's chief EU negotiator, Petras Austrevicius, said there were no doubts as to the result of the vote, but there was some anxiety about the turnout.

Under Lithuanian law more than half of the two-point-six million registered voters must cast their ballots in order for the referendum to be valid.

Lithuania is one of 10 mainly former-communist countries on course to join the EU next year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service {NET HEADLINE: Lithuania votes on EU membership } {SOURCES: 0430 RTR, AFP voting started 0300 vote trailed 10/05/2003 04:15:06 lam}