JAKARTA, INDONESIA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had a massive lead in Indonesia's elections as voting booths closed around the country, according to an exit poll broadcast on national television.

The count by MetroTV gave the liberal ex-general 50.48 percent of the vote, compared to 19.48 for opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri and 15.19 percent for outgoing Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Another "quick count" poll broadcast by TV One gave Yudhoyono 53.87 percent of the vote, with Megawati third on 20.74 and Kalla on 25.79.

Final official results are not expected for several days but based on the unofficial figures Yudhoyono will be hoping to avoid a second-round run-off in September.

Some 170 million people were eligible to vote in only the country's second direct presidential election since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998.