Colombian leftist Gustavo Petro came out on top in the first round of the Andean country's presidential election on Sunday and will face a surprise contender - businessman Rodolfo Hernandez - in a second round on June 19.

Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerrilla movement who has vowed profound economic and social change, had 40.3 percent of votes, national registry office tallies showed, with 96.2 percent of ballot boxes counted.

Hernandez, the septuagenarian former mayor of Bucaramanga, won 28.1 percent.

(Cover: Colombian left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historic Pact coalition waves as he stands with a family member during the first round of the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia May 29, 2022. /Reuters)