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Iraq Vote Gives Shi'ites Biggest Bloc in Parliament
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=10A8A50:3919ACA Election officials
say United Iraqi Alliance won 128 of parliament's 275 seats





Iraqis stand in front of giant election ballot billboard in
BaghdadFinal results from Iraq's December 15 legislative election
indicate Shi'ite-based religious parties won the largest number of
seats in parliament, but not enough for an absolute majority.

Election officials said Friday, the United Iraqi Alliance won 128 of
parliament's 275 seats. Their allies in the Kurdish Alliance won 53
seats.

Two main Sunni Arab groups - the Iraqi Accordance Front and the
National Dialogue Front - won 44 and 11 seats, respectively. Parties
have two days to appeal the results before they are certified.

More violence rocked the capital Baghdad Friday ahead of the
announcement. Iraqi authorities say at least two people were killed
when a roadside bomb targeting a U.S. patrol exploded in Baghdad.

Separately, a senior Iraqi Sunni Arab leader urged kidnappers to
release American journalist Jill Carroll. Insurgents have threatened
to kill her if U.S. forces fail to release all female Iraqi detainees
by Friday. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP
and Reuters.


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