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| Maliki leads Baghdad poll count | Maliki leads Baghdad poll count |
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| Partial results from Iraq's election show Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's coalition ahead in Baghdad, which accounts for 20% of parliament's seats. | Partial results from Iraq's election show Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's coalition ahead in Baghdad, which accounts for 20% of parliament's seats. |
| Although there are still no results from seven of Iraq's 18 provinces, partial counts released so far this week show Mr Maliki leading in five. | Although there are still no results from seven of Iraq's 18 provinces, partial counts released so far this week show Mr Maliki leading in five. |
| He is followed closely by the former prime minister, Iyad Allawi, who heads a coalition of Sunni and Shia groups. | He is followed closely by the former prime minister, Iyad Allawi, who heads a coalition of Sunni and Shia groups. |
| There have been complaints about the pace of the count for the 7 March poll. | There have been complaints about the pace of the count for the 7 March poll. |
| Final results are not expected for another fortnight, after which there is expected to be a long process of coalition-building. | Final results are not expected for another fortnight, after which there is expected to be a long process of coalition-building. |
| Sectarian violence erupted as politicians took months to form a government after the last parliamentary election in 2005. | Sectarian violence erupted as politicians took months to form a government after the last parliamentary election in 2005. |
| Political manoeuvring | Political manoeuvring |
| The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says the capital is the big prize in these elections, accounting for 70 of the 325 seats in the Council of Representatives. | The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says the capital is the big prize in these elections, accounting for 70 of the 325 seats in the Council of Representatives. |
| So the early figures will be a boost to the prime minister, he adds. | So the early figures will be a boost to the prime minister, he adds. |
| IRAQ PARTIAL RESULTS - 13/03 Baghdad 70 seats at stake; 18% of votes declaredNineveh 34; 15%Basra 24; 0%Dhiqar 18; 0%Sulaimaniya 17; 0%Babil 16; 34%Irbil 15; 29%Anbar 14; 0%Diyala 13; 17%Kirkuk 13; 0%Najaf 12; 34%Salahuddin 12; 18%Dahuk 11; 0%Qadisiya 11Wasit 11; 0%Karbala 10; 10%Misan 10; 23%Muthanna 7; 18% Sources: Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq; agencies | |
| With 18% of ballots counted, Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance was comfortably ahead with around 150,000 votes, followed by the Shia-led Iraqi National Alliance (INA) on 108,000, the Independent High Electoral Commission said. | With 18% of ballots counted, Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance was comfortably ahead with around 150,000 votes, followed by the Shia-led Iraqi National Alliance (INA) on 108,000, the Independent High Electoral Commission said. |
| Mr Allawi's secular Iraqiya bloc was in third place with 105,000. | Mr Allawi's secular Iraqiya bloc was in third place with 105,000. |
| The electoral commission also announced on Saturday that the State of Law was leading in the southern Shia province of Karbala. | The electoral commission also announced on Saturday that the State of Law was leading in the southern Shia province of Karbala. |
| With about 10% of votes counted, Mr Maliki's coalition had about 16,000 votes, 9,000 more than the INA. | With about 10% of votes counted, Mr Maliki's coalition had about 16,000 votes, 9,000 more than the INA. |
| The State of Law is now ahead in five of the nine provinces where partial results have been released - Baghdad, Najaf, Babil, Karbala and Muthanna. Iraqiya leads in the three predominantly Sunni provinces of Nineveh, Diyala and Salahuddin, while the INA is ahead in two predominantly Shia ones - Misan and Qadisiya. | |
| The Kurdistan Alliance, dominated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, is leading as expected in Irbil. | The Kurdistan Alliance, dominated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, is leading as expected in Irbil. |
| Our correspondent says Mr Maliki's representatives are already talking with other parties on forming a new coalition government, but there have still been no results from key population centres like Mosul and Basra. | Our correspondent says Mr Maliki's representatives are already talking with other parties on forming a new coalition government, but there have still been no results from key population centres like Mosul and Basra. |
| And allegations of fraud continue to hang over the process, he adds. | And allegations of fraud continue to hang over the process, he adds. |
| Iraqiya has claimed ballots were dumped, nearly a quarter of a million soldiers were denied voting rights, and vote counts were fabricated. | Iraqiya has claimed ballots were dumped, nearly a quarter of a million soldiers were denied voting rights, and vote counts were fabricated. |
| About 6,200 candidates from 86 factions stood in the election. Voter turnout was 62%, officials said, despite attacks that killed 38 people. | About 6,200 candidates from 86 factions stood in the election. Voter turnout was 62%, officials said, despite attacks that killed 38 people. |
| A credible election is seen as crucial to US military plans to end combat operations this August, seven years after the invasion. | A credible election is seen as crucial to US military plans to end combat operations this August, seven years after the invasion. |