Haitian vote count reveals Preval in lead

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Initial results from the Haitian presidential elections this week show that leading candidate Rene Preval is well ahead of the other contenders.

Preval, a former supporter of ex-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, may have enough votes to win outright in the first round, Haitian radio reported Thursday.

In order to avoid a runoff with the next leading voter getter, Preval -- president from 1995-2000 -- would have to win more than 50 percent of the vote.

Haiti Tuesday had its first election since the 2004 ouster of Aristide amid an armed rebellion.