Hondurans to elect new president after June coup

By Mica Rosenberg and Gustavo Palencia

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Opposition candidate Porfirio Lobo was leading in a Honduran presidential election on Sunday that could ease a five-month crisis caused by the June coup against President Manuel Zelaya.

Lobo is seen as more likely than his main rival, Elvin Santos from the ruling Liberal Party, to lead Honduras out of the political gridlock and diplomatic isolation it has suffered since Zelaya's overthrow.

But Sunday's winner might not be accepted abroad as the election could end any hope of Zelaya returning to power.

Washington looks ready to recognise the result, a stance splitting President Barack Obama from some Latin American leaders who say that would hand the coup leaders a victory.

Early results/exit polls showed Lobo a conservative, on xx percent of Sunday's vote, ahead of Santos, the xxx xx said.

Neither ousted Zelaya nor arch-rival Roberto Micheletti, installed as interim president by Congress after Zelaya's overthrow, was in the race.

The post-coup crisis has crippled the coffee-producing Central American nation for months and cut it off from international funds.

"This election is an important step to consolidate a government that can bring us together," Lobo, a conservative from the National Party, said after voting.