Tegucigalpa, Nov 25 (IANS): Honduras' ruling party candidate Juan Orlando Hernandez is leading Sunday's presidential election, according to the country's electoral authority.

According to the electoral board, Hernandez, candidate of the ruling conservative National Party got 34.97 percent of the counted votes, while his rival Xiomara Castro de Zelaya of the Liberty and Refoundation Party gained 28.36 percent, reports Xinhua.

As there were only 24 percent of ballots tallied, no winner has been declared yet, the electoral authority said.

The general elections were held to elect president, legislators and mayors in the central American country of Honduras concluded after a relatively tranquil day of voting.

Around 700 international observers monitored the elections, which promised a close race pitting Castro de Zelaya against Hernandez.

Castro de Zelaya is the wife of controversial former president Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted by the military in 2009.