Sawt Falasteen - Honduras TV host widens lead over Trump-backed rival for president

With nearly 80 percent of the count from Sunday's voting completed, Nasralla was leading fellow right-winger Asfura with 40.34 percent to 39.57 percent, according to the CNE election council.

The CNE has come under fire from US President Donald Trump after announcing Monday that a partial count showed the two men locked in a "technical tie."

Trump accused Honduran election officials of "trying to change" the outcome of the vote in one of Latin America's most impoverished and violent countries and vowed "there will be hell to pay!" if they do.

The CNE called for "patience" as it finishes the count delayed by technical difficulties, and vowed Tuesday the end result will "scrupulously respect the popular will."

Trump had given his support to 67-year-old businessman Asfura, vying for the top job with 72-year-old Nasralla, who the US leader has said was "pretending to be an anti-Communist."

Trump has become increasingly vocal in his support for allies in the region, having threatened to cut aid to Argentina and Honduras if his picks did not win.

Ally Javier Milei was victorious in Argentina's mid-term elections.

Whatever the outcome, Sunday's election was a clear defeat for ruling leftists, and Honduras's swing to the right will likely boost US influence in a country that under the last government had increasingly looked to China.

W.Mansour--SF-PST