A secular challenger to Iraq's prime minister edged ahead yesterday in the overall vote count in parliamentary elections, while the prime minister held on to his province-by-province lead as the counting neared completion.
The March 7 elections will determine who will lead Iraq as U.S. troops leave and the country deals with the sectarian divisions.
Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's political alliance was leading by 7,970 votes nationwide, according to a tally of 92 percent of the almost 12 million ballots cast. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition was leading in seven provinces compared with five for Allawi's bloc.
It was unclear whether Allawi's lead would hold or whether it would mean more parliament seats for his Iraqiya bloc. Parliamentary seats are apportioned by how well coalitions do in each province, not by the overall vote count.
Allawi, who led the country from 2004 to 2005, says he can bridge the country's sectarian divisions. His anti-Iran rhetoric has attracted a number of Sunni -- and even Shiite -- voters worried about Iran's growing influence.
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