New Delhi, Dec. 1 -- With votes from about 43% of polling places counted early Monday in Honduras' presidential contest, preliminary and partial results showed two conservative challengers leading the race. The vote came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in a close race by endorsing a candidate and announcing that he would pardon a former president.

The National Electoral Council said that Nasry "Tito" Asfura of the National Party had 40.54% of votes in early counting, while Salvador Nasralla, of the conservative Liberal Party, had about 38.99%. Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist LIBRE or Liberty and Re-foundation party trailed with 19.49%.

Both Asfura and Nasralla said it was still early in the count and resi...