Shiite religious alliance leading in southern Iraq province vote tally, as counting continues

Shiite group leads in southern Iraq province vote

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi Shiite religious alliance with ties to Iran is leading in one southern province according to the latest vote tallies released.

Results have only been released for six of 18 provinces, excluding Baghdad, so the final outcome is far from certain.

Election officials said Friday that the Iraqi National Alliance has almost 30,000 votes in Maysan province, which borders Iran, compared to about 23,000 for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition.

The results are based on 23 percent of the votes counted in that province.

Friday’s announcement complicates the picture after results released the day before showed al-Maliki’s coalition and a secular alliance led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi winning in two provinces each.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The Iraqi prime minister’s bloc says it has started laying the groundwork to form a coalition government after preliminary election results showed it winning in at least two southern provinces.

Friday’s announcement that Nouri al-Maliki’s alliance has created a committee to open talks with other groups signals growing optimism about a strong showing in the parliamentary balloting.

Partial tallies have only been released from only five of Iraq’s 18 provinces, excluding Baghdad. They show the prime minister and his secular rival, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, locked in a tight contest amid fraud allegations.

But Al-Maliki supporter Abbas al-Bayati says the alliance has already reached out to other parties and believes it will need at least two allies.