Nasry Asfura, a conservative candidate backed by United States President Donald Trump has won the closely contested presidential elections in Honduras, the country’s election council has said.

The final results, announced on Wednesday more than 20 days than the vote took place, are likely to spark challenges in the Central American nation.

According to the electoral authority, known as the CNE, Asfura won 40.3 percent of the vote, edging out center-right Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla who received 39.5 percent.

Trump had come out strongly in support of Asfura, attacking Nasralla and left-wing candidate Rixi Moncada, who ended up garnering less than 20 percent of the votes.

Earlier this month, Trump pardoned former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez – a member of Asfura’s National Party – who was serving a lengthy prison sentence in the US for drug trafficking.

More to come…