Iraq to release full results from March 7 vote

Baghdad: Iraq's electoral commission says it will announce full election results as scheduled despite calls for a delay amid fears of violence over the tight race.

Commission spokesman Mohammad Al Amjad says the results and parliamentary seat allocations will be released Friday evening as planned.

Earlier results, based on 95 percent of ballots counted, show Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's mainly Shiite bloc in a tight race with former prime minister Eyad Allawi's coalition, which is popular with Sunnis.

That has led to calls for a recount. Interior Minister Jawad Al Bolani requested a delay because of security concerns but the demand was dismissed.

The allocation of parliament's 325 seats is based on votes counted in each of Iraq's 18 provinces.