Partial results from last week's election put Afghan President Hamid Karzai ahead of main rival Abdullah Abdullah.
However, Mr Karzai’s lead is not enough to avoid a second round run-off in October, according to figures released today.
With 17% of votes tallied, Mr Karzai has a lead of 43% to 34% over former foreign minister Mr Abdullah.
To avoid a run-off, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote.
Meanwhile, in Kandahar authorities raised the toll from a massive truck bomb late last night to 43 dead and 65 wounded, all civilians.
The bomb devastated a section of the town and was the worst in more than a year.
It came the same day four US servicemen were killed, making 2009 the deadliest year for foreign forces since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001.
A Taliban spokesman denied responsibility for the Kandahar blast, which Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said was carried out with a remotely detonated bomb in a parked truck.
