Finland's Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen has won the first round of presidential elections, but failed to pass the 50% threshold needed for outright victory

The Social Democrat politician won 40% of the vote, followed by the former prime minister, Esko Aho, of the opposition Centre Party, with 34.4%. The two now face a run-off in three weeks.

If elected, Ms Halonen would be Finland's first female head of state.

Some 80% of the electorate in a country of five million people cast their ballots.

The results put the two candidates - who had been running neck and neck in opinion polls - well ahead of the five other presidential hopefuls.

President Martti Ahtisaari, who played a key role in negotiating an end to the Kosovo conflict last year, decided not to run for a second six-year term.

Personality driven

The campaign was driven by personalities and gender rather than policies.

Support for Ms Halonen, 56, is strongest among blue-collar workers and female voters. She also has the backing of the prime minister.

As a single mother who has quit the Lutheran Church to which most Finns belong, she is viewed with suspicion by conservative voters.

Mr Aho, 45, who was Finland's youngest prime minister, has been dubbed by local media "the Kennedy of Finland" because of his boyish good looks.

Both front-runners have expressed similar views on foreign and defence affairs. Observers say the elections are unlikely to lead to any major shift in these areas.

The two contenders endorse Finland's membership of the European Union and its policy of neutrality.

Finland's move last year to curtail presidential powers may have contributed to the muted debate over policy matters in the election campaign.