UPDATE 1-Estonian opposition Reform ahead in partial election count

Estonia's opposition centre-right Reform party took a surprise lead over Prime Minister Juri Ratas' governing centre-left Centre party in Sunday's parliamentary elections after votes from nearly 90 percent of districts had been counted.

Most opinion polls since late last year had put Centre in front, although recent surveys had indicated a tight race with some suggesting the pro-business Reform could pull ahead. Reform had 30 percent of the vote by 2048 GMT, while Centre stood at 21.3 percent and the far-right EKRE at 17.7 percent, the State Electoral Office's count of votes from 399 of 451 districts showed.

Estonian elections are typically decided late in the evening when votes from the large Russian-speaking districts, home to many supporters of the pro-Russian Centre party, are registered. Estonia's president is due to nominate the candidate for prime minister during the next week the nominee will then begin negotiations to form a coalition.

Estonia enjoys strong economic growth and low unemployment, but regional differences in the country of just 1.3 million people are vast. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; additional reporting by Niklas Pollard Editing by Susan Fenton)