Two conservative challengers were practically tied for the lead in Honduras's presidential contest, with votes from about 55 per cent of polling places counted early Monday, according to preliminary and partial results.

The vote came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in a close race by endorsing one of those candidates and announcing he would pardon a former president.

The National Electoral Council said that Nasry (Tito) Asfura of the National Party had 40 per cent of votes in early counting, while Salvador Nasralla, of the conservative Liberal Party, had about 39.78 per cent. Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist LIBRE, or Liberty and Re-foundation Party, trailed with 19.49 per cent.

Both Asfura and Nasralla said it was still early in the count and resisted dec

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