TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Honduras' conservative ruling party candidate, Juan Hernandez, is leading Sunday's presidential election according to an early vote count, the country's electoral authority said.

Minutes earlier, his main competitor Xiomara Castro, the wife of Honduras' deposed former leader Manuel Zelaya, had herself claimed victory.

The country's electoral authority said a preliminary tally of votes counted so far gave Hernandez nearly 35 percent of the vote, while Castro had 28.36 percent. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia, Gabriel Stargardter and Miguel Gutierrez)