Iraq’s political marathon: Fight over prime minister now, battles over posts ahead

Iraq’s marathon: Fight over leader, then posts

AP Interview: Sunni governor says prime minister threatens ‘last chance for democracy’

Key Sunni: Iraq facing ‘last chance’ for democracy

AP Interview: Sunni Iraqi governor says democracy won’t survive under al-Maliki

Key Sunni says PM is threat to democracy in Iraq

Kurdish lawmakers plot strategy on Iraqi prime minister’s bid to retain power

Iraq’s Kurds hold political cards for al-Maliki

Election gains by anti-immigration party shatters Sweden’s image as bastion of tolerance

Anti-immigration sentiment grows in Sweden

Bahrain widens crackdown on Shiites by revoking citizenship of powerful cleric

Bahrain revokes citizenship of top Shiite cleric

Police fire warning shots to disperse anti-Quran-burning protest in Afghan capital; 5 wounded

Afghan police fire to clear Quran-burning protest

Australia’s first Muslim, Aboriginal and youngest ever members of parliament come to Canberra

Australia’s new crop of lawmakers meet in Canberra

Afghanistan to close more polling stations because of security concerns

Poor security to keep more Afghan polls closed

Bahrain steps up crackdown on restive Shiite opposition, threatening democratic reform push

Bahrain steps up pressure on Shiite ‘plotters’

Ramadan TV show focuses on darker side of Muslim Brotherhood, provoking controversy in Egypt

Egypt TV show stirs debate over Muslim Brotherhood

Iraqi prime minister says his country is independent, sovereign as US ends combat operations

US President Barack Obama

Sunni-backed coalition accuses Iraqi premier of sectarianism, suspends power-sharing talks

Iraqi rivals break off power-sharing talks

APNewsBreak: Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders says he is launching international anti-Islam group

APNewsBreak: Dutch lawmaker forms anti-Islam group

Iraqi premier, top challenger discuss stalled government for first time since March vote

Iraq election rivals meet in political ice breaker

Despite winning most seats in Iraqi election, secular political alliance sees lesser influence

Top Iraqi vote-getter faces limited power share

Dutch voters set to give right victory in national vote dominated by economy, immigration

Dutch voters lean right on economy, immigration

Profiles of leading Dutch candidates

Profiles of leading Dutch candidates

AMSTERDAM — Profiles of the leading candidates for prime minister in Wednesday’s Dutch parliamentary elections, in order of their ranking in the latest opinion polls.

New Iraqi parliament to convene for first time next week; choosing president is first task

New Iraqi parliament to convene next week

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s newly elected lawmakers will convene for the first time next week, though the political power struggle over who will lead the next government appeared far from resolution.

Swedish politics could meet choppy waters as outsider party taps into anti-immigrant passions

Rightist group jolts Sweden’s tolerant self-image

Amsterdam’s ex-mayor counters anti-Islam politics with tolerance in bid to be prime minister

Ex-mayor offers Dutch voters return to tolerance

Iraqi court seals secular bloc’s election margin but Shiites still likely to form government

Iraqi court seals secular bloc’s election margin

Court overturns ban on 9 Iraqi candidates barred for ties to Saddam Hussein’s party

Court overturns ban on 9 Iraqi candidates

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi court on Monday overturned a ban on nine newly elected parliament members who had been barred by a committee vetting candidates for ties to Saddam Hussein’s regime, said a committee official, overcoming a major hurdle in forming the new government.

Iraq’s top vote-getter returns to country, asserts his right to form the next government

Iraq vote winner asserts right to form government

Sunni-backed party that got most votes in Iraq elections warns against sectarian politics

Sunni-backed party in Iraq warns of sectarianism

AP Exclusive: New Iraqi electoral alliance gives top Shiite clerics final say in disputes

AP Exclusive: Iraq deal gives clerics final say

New Iraqi electoral alliance gives top Shiite clerics final say over all disputes

Shiite clerics to have final say in Iraq alliance

Sunni politician warns new Shiite alliance could bring back Iraqi sectarian conflict

Iraqi Sunni concerned over new Shiite alliance

Feared Shiite Mahdi Army militia led by hardline cleric reviving in post-election Iraq

Shiite militia reviving in post-election Iraq

Iraqi officials fight publicly at start of vote recount for Baghdad

Iraqi officials fight over vote recount

BAGHDAD — Iraqi election officials argued publicly with supporters of the prime minister who demanded a halt to a partial recount of votes just as the process got under way Monday, a sign of tensions over the measure that could change the outcome of the closely fought contest.

Iraq begins recount of Baghdad ballots demanded by PM after narrow loss to challenger

Iraq begins Baghdad vote recount requested by PM

Postelection court order disqualifies Iraqi candidates, risks longer delays for new government

Iraqi court bans candidates in election disarray

AP Interview: Iraq key Shiite cleric sees election front-runners as lacking popular support

Iraq Shiite cleric doubts front-runners in PM race

Shiite Iraqi prime minister: Sunni-backed rival political bloc must be included in new govt

Iraq PM: Sunni-backed bloc must be in govt

Sunni-supported party from Iraq courts Iranian support

Iraq: Allawi’s party courts Iranian support

Allawi gains momentum as Iraqi PM’s hopes of drawing Shiite coalitions to his side crumble

Division among Iraq’s Shiites good news for Allawi

Leader of Iraqi Shiite party gives boost to Allawi in race for prime minister

Leader of Iraqi Shiite party gives boost to Allawi

Anti-US cleric’s supporters choose which candidate to back in self-styled referendum

Shiite cleric’ followers choose their PM candidate

Anti-American cleric al-Sadr calls for Iraqi referendum on who will be prime minister

Anti-US cleric calls for Iraq referendum on PM

Iraqi committee wants to bar 4 elected on winning list for ties to Saddam Hussein’s regime

Iraqi panel wants to bar 4 elected on winning list

Several prominent Iraq politicians fail to get into parliament, new election lists show

Prominent Iraq politicians fail to win seats

Following Iraq upset, Allawi turns to negotiations and warns of attempts reverse his win

Following Iraq upset, Allawi turns to negotiations

Alliance led by ex-Iraqi PM wins parliamentary elections; al-Maliki vows to challenge results

Alliance led by ex-Iraqi PM wins election narrowly

Secular challenger claims victory in Iraq election; Allawi to try to form new government

Secular challenger claims victory in Iraq election

Secular challenger’s bloc wins most seats in Iraqi elections

Secular challenger’s bloc wins most seats in Iraq

In post-election talks in Iraq, Shiite rivals inch closer to prime minister’s coalition

Shiite rivals inch closer to Iraqi premier’s group

Iraqi PM fighting off challenge from secular candidate _ negotiations to follow vote count