Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iraqi Election Still Tight, as Vote Counting Continues

   VOA News 20 March 2010
   An Iraqi man reacts in front of an election campaign poster for former
   Iraqi  Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, 20
   Mar 2010

Photo: AP

   An Iraqi man reacts in front of an election campaign poster for former
   Iraqi  Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq, 20
   Mar 2010

   A  secular  coalition  led by Iraq's former prime minister has taken a
   slight  lead  in  overall  votes as ballot counting from parliamentary
   elections  continues  -  but  it  remains behind in the key provincial
   tally.
   With  about 93 percent of the ballots counted, election officials said
   Saturday that former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's secularists lead the
   Shi'ite  coalition headed by current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki by
   about 8,000 votes.
   The  lead has repeatedly shifted between Mr. Allawi and Prime Minister
   Maliki since the March 7 vote.
   But  Mr.  Maliki's  State  of Law coalition is still ahead in seven of
   Iraq's  18 provinces - compared to five provinces held by Mr. Allawi's
   Iraqiya alliance.
   Seats  in Iraq's 325-member parliament are won according to how well a
   coalition does in a province, not according to the overall vote.
   Officials say they hope to have final results by the end of the month.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

.