CAIRO, Egypt - President Hosni Mubarak took an overwhelming early lead in his country's first-ever contested presidential race, an election commission official said today, in a ballot marred by low turnout and widespread reports of voter intimidation.

With all of the votes counted in half of the country's polling stations, Mubarak had at least 70 percent of the vote, said the electoral commission official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The remaining votes were shared between the two principal challengers, Ayman Nour of the al-Ghad Party and Noaman Gomaa of the Wafd Party, the official said.

The government had promised a clean vote, but polling was marred by widespread reports of pressure and intimidation for voters to support Mubarak. The election also suffered from low turnout. The authorities did not give an official figure, but the electoral commission official said turnout was about 30 percent. The same percentage was given today by an official in Mubarak's campaign headquarters, who also spoke anonymously.

Opposition party members, human rights monitors and citizens told The Associated Press that some poll officials in Luxor and other towns instructed voters to choose Mubarak. In Cairo and Alexan

dria, supporters of the ruling National Democratic Party promised food or money to poor people if they voted for Mubarak, voters said.

The electoral commission official and the Mubarak campaign officer said that as counting was proceeding faster than expected, final results would probably be announced Friday rather than Saturday.

Many Egyptians say what they really hope for is change without disruption, crisis or violence, leading to better jobs and more opportunities in the economically ailing country of 72 million people.