Voting is under way in Russia_s third parliamentary elections since the collapse of communism.

Voting for seats in the lower house, or Duma, started at 2000 GMT on Saturday in the far east of Russia. More than 107 million people are eligible to vote, though observers expect only a moderate turn-out after an extremely dirty campaign. Voting was reported to be "brisk" when the polls opened in the eastern port of Vladivostok. Less enthusiasm is predicted in Moscow and other urban areas further west. Polling stations opened at 0500 GMT in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The elections are widely seen as warm-up for next year_s presidential poll. Preliminary results will be announced on Monday. The final opinion polls put the Communist Party in the lead. Second and third place are being bitterly contested by the left-leaning Fatherland-All Russia party, led by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov, and the Kremlin-created Unity party, led by Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu and backed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Both parties are accused of waging a dirty campaign high on allegations of corruption, bribery and even murder, but low on issues. The conflict in Chechnya, where voting has been postponed until June, has overshadowed the election campaign but not become a major issue. Most of the parties broadly support the Government_s fight against "terrorists"_ and believe most voters do too. The conflict is expected to boost the Unity party, because of its association with Mr Putin, who is benefiting from the popularity of his campaign in the breakaway republic.