Polls open in France's overseas territories

PARIS -- Voters in France's overseas territories began casting ballots for Nicolas Sarkozy or Francois Hollande on Saturday in a presidential election that could affect everything from Europe's efforts to fight its debt crisis to how long French troops stay in Afghanistan.

The final polls show Sarkozy making up ground on his socialist challenger before today's election in France -- but still suggest a Hollande victory.

Campaigning and the release of poll data have been suspended until the results of the runoff election come in this evening.

Sarkozy predicts a "surprise" and Hollande is urging voters to avoid complacency as the bitter campaign nears its climax, driven by fears about joblessness, immigration and France's economic future.

Hollande spent the weekend in Tulle, the town in central France where he has his electoral base as legislator and one-time mayor. Greeting shoppers in a market, Hollande said he was "confident, but not sure" when asked about his chances of becoming France's next president.

Sarkozy was spending the day at home with his family in Paris.

Under a quirk of French electoral rules, balloting got under way Saturday in France's embassies and overseas holdings, starting in tiny Saint Pierre and Miquelon -- islands south of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The election's outcome will impact on Europe's efforts to fight its debt crisis, how long French troops stay in Afghanistan and how France exercises its military and diplomatic muscle around the world.

Greece is also holding national elections Sunday that may determine whether the country has a future in the eurozone.

Greeks are voting for the first time since the country became the symbol for the European debt crisis.