The Killers' new album is outselling Guns N' Roses 'Chinese Democracy' by around 20,000 copies, chart figures show.

The Las Vegas group's 'Day and Age' sold 70,764 copies on Monday compared to Guns N' Roses 50,791.

Elsewhere, UK chart midweek figures indicate possible top-five positions this week for former X Factor contestant Rhydian and US rapper Kanye West, who is currently at six with '808s and Heartbreak'.

The figures, published by MusicWeek, will come as a surprise to those who forecasted a comfortable number one spot for Guns N' Roses.

Such was the demand for the album, which has been fourteen years in the making, that many record stores ordered extra copies before it hit shelves yesterday (November 24th).

It's thought that the band's decision to preview 'Chinese Democracy' online via their MySpace page last week could have stopped people buying the album.

In the singles countdown, Take That are favourite to claim this week's number one after their new single, 'Greatest Day', sold nearly 25,000 copies on Monday.

(by Jason Gregory)