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SIDON, Lebanon: Tens of French expatriates arrived Sunday at a polling station in the southern coastal city of Sidon to cast their vote in the first round of Frances presidential elections.

The entrance to Frances Cultural Center in Sidon, converted to hold to casting of ballots, was heavily guarded by the Internal Security Forces and the premises were off limits to non-French nationals.

Voters were thoroughly searched upon entering the facility amid tight security outside the center and surrounding area.

Over 44 million French are registered to vote in this years presidential election.

Ali Shams, 89, said that he has been participating in the voting process since 1955 but declined to give details about his preference saying: I have the right not to say who I voted for.

Others laughed when asked whether the French voting process resembled the Lebanese one.

There are 10 candidates running for Frances top post but incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist challenger Francois Hollande are expected to go against each other in the next round of voting in a two-week scramble for the line.

An average of the last eight polls released ahead of the end of first round campaign at midnight on Friday showed Hollande winning the first round with an average of 28 percent support, against 26.4 percent for Sarkozy, Agence France Presse reported.

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French expats cast ballots in south Lebanon