PM Maliki likely winner of Iraqi elections

Early results from Iraq’s parliamentary elections show Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the lead.

Local officials said Maliki’s political bloc was so far leading in nine of Iraq’s 18 provinces.

Maliki’s State of Law Alliance was ahead in the Shiite regions, while Iyad Allawi, an ex-premier who heads the Iraqiya list, was leading in the Sunni areas, said estimates AFP obtained from officials across the country.

Official final results are not due until the end of March and, after that, it is likely to take months before a new government is formed as no political bloc is set to emerge dominant from the vote.

Millions of Iraqis braved terrorist attacks on Sunday to cast their ballots in the second parliamentary election since the US-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.