Prague  - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Saturday threw his support behind presidential election front-runner President Ivan Gasparovic as Slovaks voted for their new head of state.

Campaigning has been banned in Slovakia since Thursday morning, but Fico made the remarks in the neighbouring Czech Republic capital Prague.

Speaking to a congress of the opposition Czech Social Democratic Party, Fico said that any elections - be they for a party leader or a president - call for continuity at a time of the economic crisis.

Bratislava/Prague - Slovaks are voting for their new head of state on Saturday, in an election that is likely to turn into a duel between the centre-left government and the right-wing opposition.

The race is led by incumbent President Ivan Gasparovic, 67, who is supported by the very popular prime minister, Robert Fico. Gasparovic's campaign has made heavy use of the association during the race.

Fico voiced his support for the incumbent as polls opened.

Prague - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Saturday that relations with neighbouring Hungary may further deteriorate with Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's planned resignation.

Fico said that a victory by the "anti-Slovak" right-wing Fidesz party in a potential early general election raised worries in Slovakia.

Bratislava - Slovaks began voting for their new head of state on Saturday, in an election that is likely to turn into a duel between the centre-left government and the right-wing opposition.

The race is led by the incumbent, President Ivan Gasparovic, 67, who is supported by highly-popular Prime Minister Robert Fico, an association heavily employed in the campaign.

Polls showed that lawmaker Iveta Radicova, 52, the joint opposition candidate, is the only one of the six remaining contenders who stands a chance to defeat the president.

Bratislava - Twelve people were killed Saturday when a local passenger train crashed into a tourist bus in central Slovakia, police said.

The police updated its earlier reports that put the accident's toll at 13 victims after the bus wreck was removed from the tracks, police spokeswoman Maria Faltaniova said.

"The investigator on the spot confirmed that 12 victims were found (at the scene)," Faltaniova told Deusche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Bratislava - At least 13 people were killed Saturday when a local passenger train crashed into a tourist bus in central Slovakia, police said.

The collision took place at around 9 am (0800 GMT) on an "unprotected" railroad crossing by a village of Polomka, police spokeswoman Maria Faltaniova told Deusche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The bus came to a halt on the crossing as the driver was shifting gears, Sme daily reported on its web site sme. sk.

Police would not elaborate on the accident's cause, which is under investigation.