Poll results awaited amid uncertainty in Madagascar

Former Malagasy president Andry Rajoelina continued to lead his rival Marc Ravalomanana as the counting of ballots entered its second day in Madagascar.

The electoral commission said Rajoelina 44, leads with 54.59 percent of the total votes while his rival, Ravalomanana 69, another former president, had garnered 45.41 percent. The results are from 36 percent of voting centers counted.

"I call on the Malagasy people to wait patiently for the results of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Thank you to everyone who voted for me and to all the citizens who went to the polls. Thank you all for your trust," said Rajoelina on social media.

The former presidents, who were vying against each other for the first time since political turmoil in 2009, have both claimed victory even as counting of the runoff elections continues. Nevertheless, both have said they will accept the runoff's results, raising fears of a disputed result and the risk of a new political crisis in the Indian Ocean island.

Complete results are due by Jan 9.

On Thursday, an African Union initiative bringing together representatives of the international community called on the two candidates to show a spirit of responsibility and commitment to the general interests of the country and its people, and refrain from violence.

The commission said voter turnout was low at 47.5 percent of registered voters casting their votes on Wednesday in the second round of elections after any of the 36 candidates who competed in the first round, held on Nov 7, failed to win more than 50 percent of the votes as stipulated in the Constitution.

Ten million voters are registered in the Indian Ocean island.

In the first round, Rajoelina won 39 percent compared with 35 percent for Ravalomanana.

Ravalomanana was first elected president in 2002 but was ousted in 2009 by Rajoelina, the then-mayor of the capital Antananarivo.

AFP contributed to this story.