The presidential election in Afghanistan will go to a second round, after no candidate secured more than fifty percent of the vote.
Former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah won most votes with 44.9%. Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani came second with 31.5%.
Zalmay Rassoul, also a former foreign minister, was a distant third with 11.5 percent.
The BBC reports they are now expected to face a run-off vote on 28 May.
Final official results are due to be announced on 14 May after a period for adjudication of complaints.
Turnout was double that of the previous presidential election in 2009, despite a number of attacks in the run-up and bad weather on polling day.
Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats to vote in the election.
Current President Hamid Karzai was constitutionally barred from standing for a third term.
