In pictures: France votes for president

Centre-right leader Nicolas Sarkozy fulfilled predictions, emerging as top candidate for the second round on 6 May.

Socialist fans of Segolene Royal were relieved at her second-place result after their party's humiliation in 2002.

The French presidential election was billed as one of the least predictable in the nation's recent history.

Segolene Royal - who hopes to become France's first woman president - will vie with Mr Sarkozy in the run-off.

Centrist Francois Bayrou came a strong third - and it is not clear who his supporters will back in the run-off.

Far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen lost the 2002 run-off to Jacques Chirac - but this time scored just 11%.

Twelve candidates were vying to succeed President Chirac, who is stepping down after 12 years in office.

Turnout soared to about 84% - just short of a record set in 1962 and far higher than in 2002.

Some 44.5m registered voters were eligible to take part in the election, seen as a turning-point for France.

Polling day for many involved a long wait on a hot April day.

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