ROME, APRIL 8, SPA -- MORE THAN 1 MILLION ITALIANS LIVING ABROAD WHOSE BALLOTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DECISIVE IN A VERY CLOSE RACE HAVE VOTED TO SELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT, THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID SATURDAY IN ANNOUNCING ITS FINAL TALLY. THIS ELECTION MARKED THE FIRST TIME EXPATRIATES WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN A GENERAL ELECTION WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL BACK TO ITALY. THE MINISTRY SAID 1.1 MILLION ITALIANS ABROAD, OR 42 PERCENT OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, HAD CAST A BALLOT. HOWEVER, OFFICIAL RESULTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER THE SUNDAY-MONDAY DOMESTIC VOTING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BLOCS LED BY PREMIER SILVIO BERLUSCONI AND HIS CENTER-LEFT CHALLENGER, FORMER EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER ROMANO PRODI. ABOUT 2.6 MILLION CITIZENS ABROAD WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE TO ELECT 18 LAWMAKERS 12 NEW SEATS IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, AND SIX IN THE SENATE. AROUND 47 MILLION CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN ITALY WILL VOTE THIS WEEKEND, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. --SPA 14 58 LOCAL TIME 11 58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/351995