ANTANANARIVO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, two former presidents of Madagascar, were leading in the country's presidential election, according to preliminary results published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday.
Rajoelina won 30,667 votes, or 44.42 percent of the votes cast, followed by Ravalomanana with 28,258, or 40.93 percent, according to the INEC results.
Former President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who resigned in order to campaign in the election, was in the third place with 2,241 votes, or 3.25 percent.
On Thursday afternoon, the INEC processed 1.25 percent of the 24,852 polling stations until 15:10 local time (12:10 GMT).
Voter turnout was estimated at 48.96 percent in the presidential election, said the INEC.
The INEC has 12 days from November 7 to publish the provisional results. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, the second round of voting will be held on Dec. 19.
