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Allawi reaches out to his rivals Allawi reaches out to his rivals
(10 minutes later)
The leader of the secular alliance that narrowly won Iraq's parliamentary election has offered to work with all parties to form a coalition government.The leader of the secular alliance that narrowly won Iraq's parliamentary election has offered to work with all parties to form a coalition government.
Iyad Allawi said his Iraqiya bloc would start by talking with the rival State of Law alliance of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, which it beat by two seats.Iyad Allawi said his Iraqiya bloc would start by talking with the rival State of Law alliance of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, which it beat by two seats.
Mr Maliki has refused to accept the result and said he would challenge the count through the courts.Mr Maliki has refused to accept the result and said he would challenge the count through the courts.
Both the UN and US envoys to Iraq have said the 7 March poll was credible.Both the UN and US envoys to Iraq have said the 7 March poll was credible.
There is concern that a challenge to the result could be long and divisive, endangering progress towards greater stability.There is concern that a challenge to the result could be long and divisive, endangering progress towards greater stability.
Sectarian violence erupted in Iraq as politicians took months to form a government after the last parliamentary election in 2005.Sectarian violence erupted in Iraq as politicians took months to form a government after the last parliamentary election in 2005.
On Friday, at least 42 people were killed in twin bombings near a restaurant in the town of Khalis, 80km (50 miles) north of Baghdad.On Friday, at least 42 people were killed in twin bombings near a restaurant in the town of Khalis, 80km (50 miles) north of Baghdad.
'Largest bloc''Largest bloc'
According to final results published by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Mr Allawi's secular Iraqiya bloc won 91 of the Council of Representative's 325 seats, 72 short of a majority.According to final results published by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Mr Allawi's secular Iraqiya bloc won 91 of the Council of Representative's 325 seats, 72 short of a majority.
Mr Maliki's State of Law came second with 89 seats, followed by the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) on 70, and the Kurdistan Alliance with 43.Mr Maliki's State of Law came second with 89 seats, followed by the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) on 70, and the Kurdistan Alliance with 43.
Iraq does not belong to anyone or any party, but it belongs to all Iraqis Iyad Allawi Profile: Iyad AllawiIraq does not belong to anyone or any party, but it belongs to all Iraqis Iyad Allawi Profile: Iyad Allawi
Iraqiya's narrow victory means Mr Allawi, a Shia, will be given the first opportunity to form a coalition government.Iraqiya's narrow victory means Mr Allawi, a Shia, will be given the first opportunity to form a coalition government.
If he fails to do so within 30 days, Iraq's president will ask the leader of another bloc.If he fails to do so within 30 days, Iraq's president will ask the leader of another bloc.
On Saturday, the former prime minister said he had already appointed Deputy Prime Minister Rafa al-Issaw, a member of his alliance, to begin negotiations with other parties in the hope of forming a government "as quickly as possible".On Saturday, the former prime minister said he had already appointed Deputy Prime Minister Rafa al-Issaw, a member of his alliance, to begin negotiations with other parties in the hope of forming a government "as quickly as possible".
"The Iraqi people have blessed the Iraqiya bloc by choosing it," he told a news conference. "We are open to all powers starting with the State of Law bloc of brother Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.""The Iraqi people have blessed the Iraqiya bloc by choosing it," he told a news conference. "We are open to all powers starting with the State of Law bloc of brother Prime Minister Nouri Maliki."
"Iraq does not belong to anyone or any party, but it belongs to all Iraqis," he added."Iraq does not belong to anyone or any party, but it belongs to all Iraqis," he added.
Mr Allawi said he was "working for a government that can make decisions and return Iraq back to its place in the Arab and Islamic world".Mr Allawi said he was "working for a government that can make decisions and return Iraq back to its place in the Arab and Islamic world".
On Friday, Prime Minister Maliki refused to accept the results, telling a news conference that they remained only "preliminary".On Friday, Prime Minister Maliki refused to accept the results, telling a news conference that they remained only "preliminary".
ANALYSIS Andrew North, BBC News, Baghdad This narrow victory for Iyad Allawi may signal Iraq is beginning to move beyond its sectarian divisions. He is Shia but campaigned on a secular platform. ANALYSIS Magdi Abdelhadi, BBC Arab affairs analyst Iyad Allawi has clearly surprised many with such a forceful comeback. Iraqiya did not win by a big margin, but given the complex and fragmented nature of Iraqi politics, its small victory is still a considerable achievement - if it is not overturned by the courts as his rivals want.
Most of his votes came from Sunni areas, but he attracted significant support from other groups. Much will now depend on how he navigates through many of the domestic and regional minefields ahead. The words he spoke struck all the right notes - inclusive and conciliatory towards his enemies both at home and abroad. Knowing that his comeback will not be welcome in Iran, Mr Allawi must have had them in mind when he said stability in the Middle East was the responsibility of all its peoples, and not just the Americans. The US cannot stay here for ever to protect us, he warned.
What matters most now is Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's challenge to the results and whether it sparks new tension, amid the swirl of suspicions and fraud allegations. If the transfer of power is completed peacefully, and Mr Allawi manages to reconcile the many competing interests, then some will conclude that Iraq's fledgling democracy appears to be coming of age.
He has said he will use legal means to appeal. He will be under intense pressure from the Americans to do so.
Their withdrawal plans depend on the results being accepted as credible. Power has rarely changed hands peacefully in Iraq - an orderly transition would be just as significant as Mr Allawi winning.
He has until Monday to register any complaints with electoral officials.He has until Monday to register any complaints with electoral officials.
Mr Maliki is reportedly also negotiating a merger with the INA, which includes followers of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, so he can claim to lead the biggest bloc in parliament. The groups had been part of the governing United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) before the election, but split acrimoniously.Mr Maliki is reportedly also negotiating a merger with the INA, which includes followers of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, so he can claim to lead the biggest bloc in parliament. The groups had been part of the governing United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) before the election, but split acrimoniously.
Iraq's Supreme Court issued an opinion of Thursday specifying that a clause in the constitution referring to the "largest Council of Representatives bloc" could include an alliance formed after an election.Iraq's Supreme Court issued an opinion of Thursday specifying that a clause in the constitution referring to the "largest Council of Representatives bloc" could include an alliance formed after an election.
The opinion, published in response to a query submitted by Mr Maliki, might allow State of Law and the INA to claim the right to form a government first. Together, they would hold 159 seats, four short of a majority.The opinion, published in response to a query submitted by Mr Maliki, might allow State of Law and the INA to claim the right to form a government first. Together, they would hold 159 seats, four short of a majority.
Election officials have refused calls for a recount, and international observers have described the election as fair and credible.Election officials have refused calls for a recount, and international observers have described the election as fair and credible.
"It is the UN's considered opinion that these elections have been credible and we congratulate the people of Iraq with this success," the top UN official in Iraq, Ad Melkert, told reporters on Friday."It is the UN's considered opinion that these elections have been credible and we congratulate the people of Iraq with this success," the top UN official in Iraq, Ad Melkert, told reporters on Friday.
The sentiment was echoed by US Ambassador Christopher Hill and the top US commander, Gen Ray Odierno, who praised the "historic electoral process" and said they backed the conclusions of observers that there had been no evidence of widespread or serious fraud.The sentiment was echoed by US Ambassador Christopher Hill and the top US commander, Gen Ray Odierno, who praised the "historic electoral process" and said they backed the conclusions of observers that there had been no evidence of widespread or serious fraud.
A credible election was seen as crucial in helping to stabilise Iraq before the planned withdrawal of US combat troops by the end of August.A credible election was seen as crucial in helping to stabilise Iraq before the planned withdrawal of US combat troops by the end of August.
Al-Iraqiyya (Iraqi National Movement): Nationalist bloc led by former PM Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia. Includes Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, and senior Sunni politician Saleh al-MutlaqState of Law: Led by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his Shia Islamist Daawa Party, the alliance purportedly cuts across religious and tribal lines. Includes some Sunni tribal leaders, Shia Kurds, Christians and independentsIraqi National Alliance (INA): Shia-led bloc includes followers of the radical cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), and the Fadhilah Party, along with ex-PM Ibrahim Jaafari and Ahmad ChalabiKurdistan Alliance: Coalition dominated by the two parties administering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by President Jalal TalabaniAl-Iraqiyya (Iraqi National Movement): Nationalist bloc led by former PM Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia. Includes Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, and senior Sunni politician Saleh al-MutlaqState of Law: Led by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and his Shia Islamist Daawa Party, the alliance purportedly cuts across religious and tribal lines. Includes some Sunni tribal leaders, Shia Kurds, Christians and independentsIraqi National Alliance (INA): Shia-led bloc includes followers of the radical cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), and the Fadhilah Party, along with ex-PM Ibrahim Jaafari and Ahmad ChalabiKurdistan Alliance: Coalition dominated by the two parties administering Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by President Jalal Talabani