Islamabad: Early results in Pakistan's general elections on October 11 showed a huge swing of support to Islamic fundamentalist parties in the country's Western border areas.

Of 61 national Assembly seats announced so far by the Election Commission, the Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of six Islamic parties, has won 21.

Fourteen of those seats are in the North West Frontier Province and two are in Baluchistan, both bordering Afghanistan.

The pro-government Pakistan Muslim League has won 15 seats, including 13 in all- important Punjab province, the country's largest.

The Opposition Pakistan People's Party of self-exiled ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was banned from the elections, has won 11 seats.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of deposed ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif, also in exile and barred from contesting, has won four seats.

The National Alliance of six pro-government parties has won two seats.

Eight independent candidates have won seats, including Maulana Azam Tariq, the jailed leader of the outlawed Islamic extremist organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba.

Sipah-e-Sahaba was one of five extremists outfits banned by President Pervez Musharraf in January.