Maliki leads Baghdad poll count

Baghdad, 13 March-(ANA)-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 half 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.

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.

Sectarian violence erupted as politicians took months to form a government after the last parliamentary election in 2005. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 March 2010-----