Abdullah maintains lead in voting results

KABUL (AP):

The latest partial results in Afghanistan's presidential election show front-runner Abdullah still leading but far from the majority needed to avoid a runoff.

Abdullah Abdullah, a former foreign minister, had 43.8 per cent of the vote in results released yesterday. His closest rival, ex-Finance Minister Ashaf Ghani Ahmadzai, had 32.9 per cent. The results were based on 82.6 per cent of the more than seven million votes cast in the April 5 election to replace President Hamid Karzai, who is ineligible for a third term.

Full preliminary results are expected to be announced Saturday and finalised May 14 after investigations into fraud claims.

The partial results indicate no candidate will gain the required majority to avoid a runoff, which would probably be held in late May.