Dubai: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and his main rival Eyad Allawi were locked in a tight election battle on Wednesday, with updated results showing their blocs neck-and-neck in the race for parliament.
Al Maliki's State of Law Alliance and Allawi's Iraqiya list were each on track to garner 87 seats in Iraq's Council of Representatives, with fewer than 9,000 votes separating the two nationwide, according to an AFP calculation based on results released after the counting of 79% of ballots.
The Independent High Electoral Commission, which organised the election told Gulf News that levels of fraud were minimal and would not affect the outcome of the poll, after many candidates had cited accounts of foul play.
"Investigation of complaints and the actual counting and recounting of ballots ... is what is delaying the results," Qasim Al Aboudi, a spokesman for the commission said.
Form majority
Whichever bloc emerges as the winner will have to have the support of two other blocs to form a majority in parliament.
The search for partners could lead to serious delays in the formation of the government.
Both State of Law and Iraqiya said they have begun talks with rival blocs to form a government, with analysts warning that political groupings could still manoeuvre to form a coalition without either list.
Complete election results are expected by Friday, and final results — after all complaints have been investigated and ruled upon — are likely by the end of the month.
