Nobel peace prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta has taken a commanding lead in the vote count after a run-off poll to pick East Timor's next president.
"In most districts he is leading with around 50 to 80 per cent of the votes," a commission spokeswoman said, adding it was a likely the winner would be known by this evening.
She said Mr Ramos-Horta, now the country's prime minister, was the clear winner in one district where counting had ended.
Mr Ramos-Horta and Francisco Guterres - a former independence fighter and president of the ruling Fretilin party - won the most votes in the first round, but none of the eight candidates won a clear majority, forcing the extra round.
Both candidates have pledged to respect the run-off result.
Mr Ramos-Horta, who spearheaded an overseas campaign for East Timor's independence, won backing from five of the first-round losers.
Analysts said this had given him at a strong advantage even though Mr Guterres enjoys strong grassroots support in many areas and has the powerful Fretilin party machine behind him.
Outgoing President Xanana Gusmao will now run for the post of prime minister.