00:00Conservative candidate Nasri Asfura is edging slightly ahead of his rivals in Honduras' presidential election according to early preliminary results.
00:10The National Election Council says Asfura of the National Party was leading, securing around 530,000 votes, with 34% of votes counted.
00:20The race is turning out to be tightly contested, though, with Liberal candidate Salvador Nasralla trailing marginally behind, also with just over half a million.
00:31Rixi Moncada, who served as Defense Minister for the Incumbent Liberty and Re-Foundation, however, appears to have significantly dropped behind.
00:50Candidato Partido Innovación y Unidad Socialdemócrata, 10,698 votos.
01:00Candidato Partido Liberal de Honduras, 506,316 votos.
01:08Candidato Partido Nacional de Honduras, 530,073 votos.
01:14Asfura's success could be in part due to a surprise endorsement, announced on Friday by U.S. President Donald Trump.
01:25Trump said Asfura, who had expressed a hardline stance on narco-trafficking, would be the only candidate his administration was willing to work with.
01:34The U.S. President also threatened cuts in U.S. aid to Honduras in the event of his loss.
01:39The election council has up to 30 days to announce the final results.
01:45In addition to a new president, Hondurans were also casting their ballots for a new parliament and hundreds of local councillors.
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