Malta PM fights for re-election in shadow of Mideast crisis

Voters in Malta cast their ballots Saturday in elections likely to secure a record-setting fourth term for the Labour government. Opinion polls point to a win for Prime Minister Robert Abela, 48, who is campaigning on Labour's economic record and a promise to shield import-heavy Malta from geopolitical crises.

His main rival is Nationalist Party (PN) candidate Alex Borg, a 30-year-old lawyer and former "Mr World Malta" beauty pageant winner, who would be the country's youngest leader. Preliminary results are expected on Sunday afternoon.