armondtoth
03-16-2010, 03:12 PM
BAGHDAD – A coalition challenging Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in parliamentary elections is ahead for the first time in the overall vote count, although still trailing in the province-by-province count.
The Iraqiya coalition, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, has about 9,000 votes more than al-Maliki's State of Law coalition in the overall vote tally with about 79 percent of ballots counted.
However, al-Maliki is still winning in seven of Iraq's 18 provinces — including all-important Baghdad — compared with five for Allawi. That could prove important since parliament seats are apportioned mainly by provinces, not according to the overall vote total. Still, the nationwide tally showed Allawi could be narrowing the gap.
The Iraqiya coalition, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, has about 9,000 votes more than al-Maliki's State of Law coalition in the overall vote tally with about 79 percent of ballots counted.
However, al-Maliki is still winning in seven of Iraq's 18 provinces — including all-important Baghdad — compared with five for Allawi. That could prove important since parliament seats are apportioned mainly by provinces, not according to the overall vote total. Still, the nationwide tally showed Allawi could be narrowing the gap.