UK's top 2 parties locked in election standoff

The Conservatives strongly outpolled Labour in Britain's general election Thursday but were projected to fall short of being able to govern outright. Labour was on track to lose nearly 90 seats in Parliament but still thwarted the Conservatives from a victory that only a few months ago was considered inevitable.

The biggest - and surprise - loser was Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg, who failed to capitalize on his stellar TV debate performances, leaving his party stuck in its distant, third-place status.

Despite producing one of Labour's worst showings in decades, Brown could still end up staying in power, as his party eyed the Liberal Democrats as a possible lifesaver. Talks were expected between political players Friday but a definitive result could take days - or weeks.

With 615 of the 650 seats counted, the Conservatives had secured 290 seats, Labour 247, the Liberal Democrats 51 and smaller parties 27 seats. At least 326 of the House of Commons' 650 seats are needed to form a government.

"The country has spoken - but we don't know what they've said," former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown said, summing up confusion; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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