Ruling party in African mountain kingdom of Lesotho leads in early returns from weekend vote

A woman carries grain to feed for her animals in a field near Maseru, Lesotho, Sunday March 1, 2015, as the country awaits the results of elections held Saturday. The southern African nation held an early election aimed at overcoming tension among political factions that has led to violence among security forces since last year. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Boys ride on donkeys near Maseru, Lesotho, Sunday March 1 2015, as the country awaits the results of elections held Saturday. The southern African nation held an early election aimed at overcoming tension among political factions that has led to violence among security forces since last year. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

JOHANNESBURG – The party of Lesotho's prime minister is leading in initial results from an election in the mountain kingdom, which held an early vote in an attempt to overcome tension among political factions.

Lesotho's election commission said Sunday that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's All Basotho Convention party was ahead with wins in 35 out of 80 voting districts.

The Democratic Congress of Pakalitha Mosisili, a former prime minister, was second with 10 district victories on Saturday's election. The Lesotho Congress for Democracy, a party led by Mothetjoa Metsing, the prime minister's deputy, had won two.

Lesotho has a mixed election system, using voting districts as well as results in the nationwide popular vote to determine who gets the 120 seats in parliament.