OTTAWA - Voters stripped the long-dominant Liberal Party of its outright control of Parliament, but left it enough seats to take charge of Canada's first minority government in 25 years.

"It's unfamiliar terrain," said Prime Minister Paul Martin, relieved at avoiding even heavier losses in Monday's election at the hands of Quebec separatists and a newly unified Conservative Party.

Tarnished by financial scandal, the Liberals lost more than 30 seats to end an 11-year monopoly on power. In nearly complete returns, they had 135 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons, compared to 99 for the Conservatives, 54 for the separatist Bloc Quebecois and 19 for the left-wing New Democratic Party.

The New Democrats, who are aligned with trade unions and advocate higher taxes on the rich, were viewed as the most likely partners for the Liberals in an informal governing coalition.

"We, as Liberals, have lost votes," Martin acknowledged to supporters. "The message in this regard was unmistakable - Canadians expect more from us, and as a party and a government we will do better."

As for minority government, "we are up to the challenge," said Martin, 65. "We will make it work for all Canadians."

The most clear-cut winner was the Bloc Quebecois, which entered the election holding only 33 of Quebec's 75 seats. The gain of 21 seats, at the Liberals' expense, immediately fueled talk of holding a vote in Quebec on whether the French-speaking province should secede.

"The Bloc is the only party Quebeckers have faith in to defend their interests," said the party's leader, Gilles Duceppe, as hundreds of supporters celebrated in Montreal.

"The Quebec people are awakening," said Bloc activist Francois Gendron, 21. "We're preparing for the next referendum."

The Liberals had won three straight landslide victories under former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, starting in 1993, and there were signs during the five-week campaign that many Canadians were disenchanted with the party and its recent entanglement in a financial scandal.