JERUSALEM, May 28 (Reuters) - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and ex-Shin Bet secret service chief Ami Ayalon were closely matched in a Labour party leadership election on Monday, exit polls indicated.

A survey conducted for Israel's Channel 1 Television and Israel Radio showed Barak received 38 percent of votes and Ayalon 36 percent in the first round of elections, while a Channel 2 poll named Ayalon the winner with 39 percent of votes and Barak with 33 percent.

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