Honduras presidential race locked in virtual tie as tally advances

TEGUCIGALPA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran National Electoral Council (CNE) said Monday that the presidential vote remains virtually tied as the preliminary tally advances peacefully a day after the country's general elections.

According to the latest update of the Preliminary Electoral Results Transmission System, with 57.03 percent of the votes counted, Nasry Asfura, candidate of the National Party, obtained 749,022 votes, or 39.91 percent of valid ballots.

His main contender, Salvador Nasralla, from the Liberal Party of Honduras, follows closely with 748,507 votes, representing 39.89 percent, a razor-thin margin of only 515 votes.

CNE president Ana Paola Hall described the situation as a "technical tie" and urged citizens to remain patient while contingency tally sheets are being processed.

"We must remain calm and prudent ... The peace experienced during election day must continue until the final declaration of results," Hall said in a public message, noting that the country awoke "without acts of violence," which she attributed to the civic commitment of voters.

More than 6 million Hondurans registered to cast their votes in this election to choose a new president, 298 mayors and 128 members of the National Congress, among other positions.

Honduras conducts its elections without a runoff, meaning the candidate with the largest share of votes secures the presidency. ■