Abdullah leads in new partial results from Afghan presidential election; full tally due soon
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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 percent of the vote in results released Thursday. His closest rival, ex-Finance Minister Ashaf Ghani Ahmadzai, had 32.9 percent. The results were based on 82.6 percent of the more than 7 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 finalized May 14 after investigations into fraud claims.
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The partial results indicate no candidate will gain the required majority to avoid a runoff, which would probably be held in late May.