Results from Iraq's tight general election race are becoming clearer, with 95% of votes from the March 7 poll now counted. The latest official figures at the weekend put ex-prime minister Iyad Allawi's Iraqi National Bloc slightly ahead of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition.
News that Allawi was leading by 11,000 votes prompted Maliki to call for a recount, with President Jalal Talabani adding his support. On Sunday, the electoral commission rejected their demands, saying there was no justification at this stage and that final results would be announced on March 26.
Read Full Article »
