KABUL (AFP/Reuters) - Afghanistan's presidential election is set for a second-round vote, preliminary results showed on Saturday, as opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah and former academic Ashraf Ghani both failed to secure a decisive victory.
"Based on our results, it appears that the election goes to the second round," Mr Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, head of the Independent Election Commission, told a press conference.
Mr Abdullah finished top with 44.9 per cent, followed by Mr Ghani with 31.5 per cent, the Independent Election Commission said. Mr Zalmay Rassoul was a distant third with 11.5 per cent.
Final results are due on May 14, and a run-off would take place at the end of May.