Maliki’s lead strengthens in Iraq vote

March 15, 2010|Associated Press

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s prime minister edged ahead in a tight race in the country’s parliamentary elections yesterday after partial results from all of 18 provinces showed his bloc leading in seven provinces — two more than his chief rival.

The tally strengthens Nouri al-Maliki’s chances of retaining the prime minister’s post, although he is unlikely to win a majority that would allow him rule alone. Instead, the narrow race could lead to months of political wrangling as leaders try to cobble together a coalition government that will rule as American forces leave Iraq in 2011. The March 7 vote was Iraq’s second for a full-term government since the US-led invasion in 2003.

According to the partial count from all of Iraq’s 18 provinces released by the country’s electoral commission, Maliki’s State of Law coalition leads in seven provinces.

His closest challenger, the secular Iraqiya bloc led by Ayad Allawi, a former prime minister, leads in five provinces, while the religious Shi’ite Iraqi National Alliance and the main Kurdish coalition each lead in three.

The results were based on partial vote counts released over the past three days, with the percentage of polling stations counted in each province ranging from 10 percent to 67 percent.

The new 325-member parliament will choose a prime minister to form a government that will lead the country as US troops prepare to go home. Baghdad is the largest prize in the election, with 70 parliament seats.

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