KABUL: Partial results from last week's election put Afghan President Hamid Karzai ahead of main rival Abdullah Abdullah, but not by enough to avoid a run-off in October, figures released yesterday showed.

With 17 per cent of votes tallied, Karzai held a lead of 43pc to 34pc over former foreign minister Abdullah. To avoid a run-off, a candidate must secure more than 50pc votes.

Meanwhile, in Kandahar, authorities raised the toll from a truck bomb late on Tuesday to 43 dead and 65 wounded, all civilians. LINK